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#sydney red brick
vanishingsydney · 1 year
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Great Depression era art deco apartment building in the "P&O Style". Four identical units only. Marrickville.
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broken-footstool · 1 year
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Green Goblin Mirror Scene Esque scenario where corrupt Sydney (in mirror) taunts/teases pure Sydney about lewd thoughts about the player ending in masturbation. Any gender :)
I love these kinds of scenes in media!!!
Sydney let his hair fall freely, running a hand through his bangs. His cheeks were flushed horribly red and his face was slick with sweat from spending so much time outdoors. He looked like a hot mess. Picking up the brush on his sink, Sydney made an effort to brush through his thick, blond hair. It was always a hassle to get through all of it, but he didn’t have much of a choice. Having it messy was a sin in his eyes and he needed it to look good. Brushing down the more tangled bits, Sydney took a moment to let his mind wander.
There had been a new girl at school today, and for some reason he couldn’t get her off his mind. She wasn’t like the other student’s. Her hair was curly and orange, falling beautifully down her shoulders. There was a green tint in her eyes that complemented her soft, freckled face. When she came in, Sydney recalled her having an accent much different than his. Perhaps she was Scottish or Irish. Either way, Sydney couldn’t deny that she was stunning in every way possible. And the way her uniform fit her was something else. Her blouse hugged her curves while her skirt rested just slightly above her knees. It left quite a bit to the imagination.
“Thinking about her rack again?”
Pausing in his movements, Sydney was started by the sound of…what seemed like his voice. Was he thinking out loud? He didn’t even remember opening his mouth. Or maybe he just thought he spoke when in reality he was just too deep in thought. That seemed to be the most logical answer. Just deep thought. Deep, sinful thought.
“Maybe we can ask Leighton to order tighter shirts.”
Sydney dropped his brush, pushing his hair back behind his ears. His thoughts weren’t this clairvoyant in his head and he knew that. He also knew that he wasn’t speaking into thin air. His voice, somehow, was coming from somewhere else. Sydney took a quick glance around the bathroom, which was empty except for him. Everything looked the same. There wasn’t a speaker or camera anywhere, so the voice, his voice, couldn’t be projected from anywhere. Perhaps it was a delusion brought on by fatigue. Sydney had spent the past few hours carrying supplies throughout the temple. He was probably just tired. The faster he brushed his hair, the faster he could go to bed. Turning back to the mirror, Sydney dropped his brush on the counter.
His reflection was different. Instead of his usual strawberry blond hair, it was jet black. The mirror version of him was also missing their glasses, despite Sydney still having his on. Was he hallucinating? A person’s reflection couldn’t differ from reality. That’s not how they worked. Sydney frantically turned on the sink, splashing his face a few times with cool water. When he looked at himself again, nothing had changed.
“I’m not so sure you can wash this away.” The reflection spoke. With Sydney’s face. With his mouth. With his voice. It spoke. “This hair dye’s permanent.”
Turning off the water, Sydney stared at the him that wasn’t really him. They had a cocky grin on their…his face and a strange look in his eyes.
“Will you stop denying your thoughts?” They said, tilting their head a bit. “That newbie was hot and you know it.”
“I’m not denying anything.” Sydney swallowed hard. “I think she’s pretty.”
The realization that he was not only hallucinating, but also talking to himself, hit Sydney like a brick. Something was definitely wrong. Maybe he inhaled something from the garden or something was slipped into the tea he had earlier. Whatever the case, he needed to lay down.
 “I didn’t say pretty. I said hot.” Sydney’s reflection leaned in, getting uncomfortably close to the glass. “You wanna fuck her, don’t you?”
Shame washed over Sydney and he could feel the heat of it creeping up his neck. He had been taught over and over again to ignore any sexual thoughts or urges that arose. They weren’t supposed to be  acknowledged. But that didn’t mean they weren’t there.
“I know you do because I’m you.” The reflection chuckled, chewing the top of his thumbnail. “I know how badly you wanna jam your face in her nice, fat, juicy-“
“Stop it!” Sydney didn’t even notice that he was chewing his own nail as his blush darkened. “Stop talking about her.” 
Another low chuckle filled Sydney’s ears and he began to sweat. There was a painful knot growing in the pit of his stomach, gnawing away inside. It was a feeling that Sydney was familiar with, and one that made him sick.
“You’re hard.” 
“Shut up.” 
Sydney picked up his brush again and resumed his grooming, hoping that it would distract him. If he ignored his reflection, it couldn’t bother him. It was a hallucination that would fade away and never come back.
“You can’t ignore me forever, you know?”
Sydney brushed harder.
“I know how badly you crave her body.” 
Harder.
“How badly you wanna bend her over in the dressing room and just go to town on her.”
Dropping his brush again, Sydney gripped the countertop. His reflection was right. So painfully, annoyingly right. That new girl did things to him that drove him crazy. With her too tight shirt and her stupid long legs. It made him feral. Like a wild animal desperate to breed.
“Can you please stop talking?” Sydney could feel his crotch pressing against the front of his pants. The ache in his stomach was now a painful burn that worsened with each passing moment.
“Just give in.” The voice was now directly in his ear, whispering to him.
Without as much as a second thought, Sydney worked his hand down the front of his pants. Trembling fingers glossed over the chastity belt that protected his purity, and for a moment he hesitated. Masturbation was a sin. Brother Jordan had told him that a thousand times. A person was never meant to pleasure themselves or give in to temptation.
“Jordan’s a prude.” The reflection’s voice was warm and husky, sending a chill down Sydney’s spine. “Plus, he’ll never know about this.”
That much was true. The monthly purity test only checked if a person had sex. It was never about if a person masturbated. With the revelation of this loophole, Sydney took hold of his caged cock. He thrust into his fist without so much as a second thought. A frenzy of pent up moans rolled from his tongue as he slammed his hips against his wrist over and over again. This pleasure. This once forbidden feeling. It was intoxicating!
Sydney’s movements increased in speed, moving from calculated thrusts to frenzied slamming into his own hand. He pictured the girl who’s name he didn’t even know. Her school shirt ripped open, exposing her modest breasts. How they’d heave at the slightest breeze or flick of his tongue across them. Soft and warm and just waiting for his touch. Perhaps he could place his face between her thighs, suckling on the tender flesh.
“You fantasize like a virgin.”
“Be quiet,” Sydney moaned through gritted teeth. “You’re not helping.”
It was true that his lack of experience made Sydney’s imagination limited. Picturing what he wanted was difficult when he didn’t really know what was on the table. He knew that he wanted to pleasure someone, but he didn’t know how to do it.
“Picture your hand as her mouth.” Once again, the reflection’s voice had gotten rougher. “Warm and wet. Just for you. Her tongue sliding along every single inch of you.”
Sydney did his best to imagine the scenario, screwing his eyes shut in the process. The girl sitting on her knees, mouth completely engulfing him. The way her eyes would sparkle with the same lust and passion that burned within him. The joining of two bodies. Two souls. Fitting perfectly together as one. It felt as if a fire had been lit in Sydney’s stomach as he inched closer and closer to finishing. He’d never actually experienced an orgasam before and didn’t know what it would feel like. 
“Let go, Syd.” 
A tingle ran up and down the length of Sydney’s back as he finally released, firing his cum against his palm and the bathroom cabinet in spurts. He used his free hand to trap the moans and grunts that dripped from his lips. A lewd heat grew on his cheeks, tinting them a soft pink. Everything Sydney thought he knew about masturbation was thrown out the window and replaced with a new, better understanding. It was better than anything he could have expected and then some. Lazily opening his eyes again, Sydney saw that the reflection in the mirror was his own, true self again. His matted, sweaty blond hair and slightly crooked glasses were back.
Washing the filth from his hands, Sydney finally got back to grooming himself. The afterglow was already starting to fade and he didn’t want the realization of what he had done to set in. As he looked at himself, his true self, Sydney missed the darker hair. It weirdly suited him. He figured that in the morning, after a long night of rest and self reflection, maybe he could go and get it dyed.
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fineprintedsunsets · 9 months
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ᴄʟᴜʙ ᴋɪssᴇs
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Synopsis: Kasey has just broken up with her boyfriend, while at a bar nursing her wounds she meets two brothers, and one of them offers her a deal.
*wrote this on a writing high, not promising good content*
Word Count: 3.1k
!Trigger Warnings!
-loki (should be an automatic warning)
-dirty!talk
-heavily centered around addiction 
-mentions of self harm
-mentions of alcoholism
-sexual content
-insta!love
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ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : 
Blinding Lights- The Weeknd
1:35 ───ㅇ───── 3:47
This was the worst, sitting here nursing a bottle of god knows what because of some douchebag. The music draws on as sweaty bodies dance under color-changing lights. The DJ’s fingers worked on his turntable, stomping his foot to the beat.
I sit here at the bar of Tipsy Owl Night Club, staring at the Dj in my shimmering gown that is way too uncomfortable, and drinking my fourth shot. Of what? I have no fucking clue. I and my boyfriend of 5 fucking years broke up. Why? Because the dumbass was cheating on me.
It hurts more than I care to share. I hate cheaters, I hate lairs. I hate fucking people. Ian hurt me so much when I came home to her in our bed. I have no idea who she was, but I do not blame the woman. She sent me flowers and apologized thousands of times in my Instagram dm’s. All of which I’ve ignored. Not because I’m petty, or because it’s her fault. I just can't face that situation yet, and what were 3 years alcoholically sober, has now been flushed down the drain.
Because of some guy.
“Kasey!” I dip my head, almost banging my head against the bar top in agitation. Sydney and some guy I don’t know stomp over to me, sliding into the empty bar stool by my side.
“Yes?” I manage to grit out, turning to face her. She reeks of alcohol, and her top is slipping away from her breast. I briefly look up to the guy I have yet to be introduced to. I hope he’s not her new piece of ass because he can’t keep his eyes off mine.
Fucking prick.
“This is Joseph!” Sydney manages to scream over the loud music, causing my ears to ring louder in my head.
I contain the sudden urge to roll my eyes, instead just muttering “Cool.” “Dance with us.” Sydney smiles, her fingers reaching for my wrist but I pull away, downing my shot and adjusting the front of my dress.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” I shout over the music, smelling the sticky scent of sweat in the air and the constant glimmer of bedazzling outfits.
She groans, “Ugh. Your no fun.” The look is quickly replaced when she grabs Joseph, whose eyes have still not left my body, and begins to grind against him. Sydney thought and I quote, “This is exactly what I needed.” Maybe it’s what she needed because she’s blackfaced drunk while I’m making my way to the club's bathroom, wanting to puke my guts out.
I don’t get drunk easily, and I’ve only had 3 shots. I think, anyway. The music gets farther away as I make my way through the bodies, it is now just a steady beat of drums, and the lights still obscure my vision. Green dances in front of me, and red glimmers to my side. I hate flashing lights.
I hurry my way through the line, before smacking right into someone's chest.
“Watch it, asshole,” I mutter, but he does the exact opposite, he pulls me by the wrist and shoves me against a wall. My back groans as it meets bricks, and his fingers bit into my wrist. What the actual fuck? I’m irritated, lonely, and just begging to punch some drunk douchebag in the face tonight. Although I was hoping it was Joseph, he will have to do.
“Let go!” I try to wiggle my way out of his hold, I can smell him. It’s a smell I indulge in for a moment. He smells sober.
What is he doing here then?
I push him off, pulling my wrist around his neck and forcing my knee into his stomach. A little lady like me knows self-defense, buddy. The man stumbles, but crowds me again, planting both his arms on either side of my head.
“Your drunk.” He scans my face, I can barely see his own features. Just his jawline and his long blonde locks, I want to twirl my fingers in it for some reason. The music is ringing in my ears now, although it’s farther away. He’s attractive, just not exactly my type.
“I’m buzzed,” I reply, knowing damn well this guy is right. I don’t get drunk easily, but I know I had more than three shots. I can hear his accent through my thickening thoughts. The world is coming down around me, and if it wasn’t for him, I would be face to face with concrete right about now.
“Let’s go, Thor, we don’t have time for this.” Another man grumbles I can’t see him but his voice is husky like he’s losing it.
“She’s drunk, brother.”
“It's a club, and she’s from Midgard, they’re always drunk.” The man detests the one holding me up against the wall, who I’ve now learned his name is Thor. Odd name. I’m in my head, the world a blur of music and lights. I must look ridiculous, but I have no urge to move out of his eyesight.
“Somethings different about her.”
“Let’s go, Thor!” His brother rushes him, grabbing his back. He does not go, he stays with me. Why? I have no idea. For all I know these are my murderers, planning to get me alone. But I feel it too. I feel safe against his arms. Or maybe I’m too drunk and would find comfort in about anything. I catch a glimpse of his brothe behind him, trying to pull him away from him, and I’m almost winded. His raven hair, his sharp jawline, his rich accent.
He’s hot.
The loud noise of his brother's voice causes me to fall, and although it feels like an eternity the man lifts me up before my ass meets the floor, holding me to him.
“ You don’t need another midguardian toy.” The brother yells, but the music is getting farther away now. And the lights are removing themselves from my vision. I feel as if I’m flying, and when I look down,
All I see are stars.
𖤍 I awake with a pounding headache. My legs ache, my breath reeks of alcohol, and the lights are burning my eyes. There’s a new rush in my veins, one I’m all too familiar with. The need for alcohol. And then it comes rushing back. Ian, the brothers, Sydney and Joseph, and of course, Relapse.
I fucking relapsed.
It feels like I’m rolling poison over my tongue, and yet I still crave it. Fuck. I need it. I roll out of the large bed, my eyes half-lidded to shield me from the harsh lights overhead. Two doors sit on either side of the mattress. I go to the golden one on my right, and sure enough, it leads me to a bathroom.
“Thank god.” I seem to mutter while shedding my dress and undergarments while turning on the warm water. A shower is just what I need, but I know the cravings will start soon. Where the hell is Sydney? Did I see Stars last night? My mind is cleared of thoughts when the steam reaches my nose, and the sound of running water calms my nerves.
For now.
I relish in the steam, the water coating my aching muscles, my scared calves, and my aching core. Everything seems so unreal, paired with the fact that I have no idea where I am. It’s scary and although I’m not proud to say, I’ve been in these situations before. I’m addicted to many things, not just alcohol.
I finish in the shower, not using any of the products stationed inside. It be a bit weird. I reach for a towel, grab the silk cloth, and step out of the running water, turning it off. I wrap it around my body and walk back into the room I woke up in. Except now a regular white t-shirt and boxer shorts layout for me.
A tingle runs up my spine, how did I not notice anyone come in? My headache pounds against my skull as I get dressed, discarding the towel in the laundry bin just outside the shower. The room is large, and most of the decor is gold.
Beauty and The Beast have to live here somewhere.
I grab my phone from the pocket of my dress, seeing missed calls from both Ian and Sydney. Both of which I have no desire to answer.
I clutch the screen to my chest and open the second door on the other side of my mattress. The hallways are long stone paths, marked with engraved columns on each side. A large emblem sits in the middle, a black mask with horns. The building is large, and the air smells nothing like Chicago. It smells…pure.
Fresh. Unpolluted.
I walk around for what has to be minutes, trying to push back the bile rising in my throat. I know the feeling, I know how it feels to crave what I want to push away. I come to two large doors, with guards stationed outside of them. They too wear golden masks with horns, just like the emblem. They are dressed in fancy leathers, and suddenly I feel unnerved.
Where am I? I must ask it aloud because the doors open before me and the guards usher me inside. Two men stand just inside, a large chair made out of pure gold stands several feet behind them. I recognize their hair from the party. These are the brothers. The one with long blonde hair, and the other with shoulder-length raven hair, who also happened to be the one who referred to me as a ‘toy’.
“Hello.” Thor, which I’ve guessed is the blonde one smiles at me. He wears the same leathers as the guards and a large hammer sat just at his feet. Loki doesn’t greet me, instead, he roams me with his eyes, and suddenly I’m all too aware of how the boxers ride up my ass. But unlike Joseph’s gaze, his is anything but unwanted. He doesn’t make me feel that way, anyhow.
“Welcome to Asgard.”
I say nothing, I stand there in my t-shirt, picking at my skin, fidgeting. The more I stand around, the more I feel it. I need alcohol or something to keep my mind off of it. The two men look at me and suddenly I feel smaller than I am.
“Perfect” Loki states with an eye roll, “You’ve brought an addict into Asgard.” I ball my fist at my sides, closing my eyes and twisting my neck. I need to get out of here before I turn to another addiction of mine that is more painful than drinking.
“Loki.” His brother warns he takes a step toward me but I retreat. “What is your name?”
I grab onto my shoulder sleeve, twisting it in my fingers. “K-” My tongue rolls as I fight to stay focused, “Kasey.” I finish, a shiver coursing through my back.
“Kasey, Do you struggle with addiction?” Thor’s voice is calm, reminding me of my old AA meeting counselor. She always spoke to me as If I were a wild animal waiting to attack. In truth, I sort of was.
“Yes.” I begin, noticing my fingers are starting to shake. My wrist are scared, and they can see that quite notably. The ugly pink scars of past pain marking the flesh. I hide my arms behind my back, suddenly ashamed. I’ve never been a fucking coward but in front of two men with fancy leather outfits? It seems I am.
“Can I ask-”
“Oh for god's sake, She’s a midguardian imbecile. Can you return her to the hell she crawled out of?” Loki mumbles, rolling his pretty green eyes back into his head. Green eyes I would now like to see turn red.
He looks at me like I’m a weak child, and it only makes me angry. I am not that, and I never will be that.
“What did you say?” It takes all my remaining energy to say those words, shooting daggers at Thor’s brother.
“Misguardian imbecile.” Loki pops his words, flicking his tongue to intimidate me. My mind blanks, and I realize I’m moving. My fist is out, wanting to take a swing at that stupid fucking face.
Loki catches my wrist, spinning me around so we're back to back. I can hear his breathing, and feel his muscled torso against my skin.
“Loki. Let her go.” Thor reaches out to grab me, but I’m spinning away from him. I realize I’m in an entirely different room, my head pounding even faster at Loki’s trick. How did he do that? We are now in a larger room, one marked with green and gold things. It must be his room.
“Listen to me, lamb.” Loki starts, coming behind me, his breath coating the shell of my ear. My heart pumps in my chest, threatening to burst.
“I know what you crave. I’d even go as far to say my cravings are quite aligned with your own.-” He pauses his accent husky, demanding. “Let me offer you a distraction, and you can offer my salvation.”
I spin around and look into his eyes, I know what he’s offering. But what am I offering in return? All he said was salvation. I nod, signaling to him that I agree. If I can’t drink, and I can’t cut, I may as well let someone else have control. When our eyes meet, and he picks me up with gentle hands it feels like I’ve just signed a deal with a horned devil.
𖤍 Loki places me on his bed, I sink into his sheets, gripping the white material as he kisses up my thighs. I hate this, I’m having sex with someone I barely know. But if this is what it comes to, then I must.
Anything to avoid drinking.
He connects our lips together in a long kiss. I melt into him, my heart beating. I’ve never felt what I’m feeling now with anyone. I tangle my fingers into his hair, feeling the soft strands curl around my bones. He looks at me like he wants to devour my body, and he does just that. Loki’s mouth trails everywhere, my shoulders, my inner thighs, my collarbone.
He’s making me forget.
My clothes are gone with a snap of his fingers, but I’m too high on his scent to care. I have no idea how he’s doing it, or if all of this is real, but I feel him, and right now all I want to do is melt into his body.
Loki snaps his leather off, and I’m almost overcome with relief, I had no idea how to take those off. Not that I was trying to figure it out..
He flips us so I’m straddling him, I can feel his erection against me, tenting his boxers.
“You looked so pretty in my boxers, but this is much better.” I tense. Those were his? I rock back on his cock on impulse, seeing him wince. Loki’s hands go to my hips, stopping me from moving.
“Are you ready for it?” I nod, bucking again. I haven’t been warmed up yet and I know it’s going to hurt like a bitch, but I’ve never wanted something as much as I have now. It’s such an odd feeling.
He acted as if he detested me the moment I stepped before him, but right now? Right now he’s acting as if I’m the most precious thing he’s ever laid eyes on. Maybe it was part of the imaginary contract I signed. His shorts disappear, and his cock lays against his stomach, already dripping with pre-cum.
Another snap, my under garments are gone, disappearing somewhere on the floor. I would be convinced I’m hallucinating, but it feels so real.
“Go ahead, take my cock.” Loki says, a smile playing on his lips. He’s so cocky, but I seem to love it. I do what he says, gripping the base of him to line it up with my entrance. I don’t push down on him yet and he doesn’t thrust.
“I feel like I’ve known you my entire life,” I mutter, locking my blue eyes with his green ones, pushing down to accommodate his length. He groans, his hands stilling on my hips. Tears threaten to burst out from my eyes lids as I feel the stretch his cock gives me. My pussy clenching, trying to take more of him. Loki looks up at me, as he grips my hips again and I nod.
He thrust into my cunt, causing me to shoot forward with pain.
“Look at me.” He demands, and I do. I look into his eyes as he thrust into me until I’m moaning. I feel my cravings begin to disperse, and somehow it feels as if he’s making them.
“Look as I thrust into your hungry cunt.” Loki growls, snaking a hand up my stomach to grasp at one of my breasts, playing with the nipple. I moan at the sensation, seeing his eyes light up.
“Fuck, Loki.” I buck onto him as his cock fucks into me, filling me with pain and pleasure alike. Loki grabs the back of my head, bringing my chin to rest on his shoulder, burying my face in the mattress.
“He’s never made it feel like this, but I will-” He thrust again, his voice loud and hot in my ear, “I will show you what it feels like to be cherished by a god.” I feel closer to an orgasm than I have in years.
How the hell does he know about Ian?
I push it away, feeling him guide my hips with one hand, while molding his other to the back of my scalp, holding me in place. I wiggle, wanting to feel more.
“Beg for it.” He mutters, groaning as he pumps into my pussy. It feels otherworldly, heavenly. I feel like a god sitting on top of a mountain.
“Fuck me harder.” I whimper, sounding needy.
“Beg.” Loki growls, as I cry into his sheets, a string of salvia collecting in my mouth.
“Please, fuck me harder.” I cry out again as he does just that, his pace speeds up as he drills into me, and before I know it my orgasm is cresting for the second time this afternoon.
“That's it, come on my cock, lamb.” Loki’s words push me over the edge as he thrusts speed up, chasing his own high. I feel as if I’m in wonderland everything is oblivious around me as I recede into waves of pleasure.
I don’t know who he is, but he made sex feel like a pleasure again. And I haven't felt pleasure in 14 years.
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adelko55 · 4 months
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Bucket List Travel: The Top 50 Places In The World
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According to a new survey, Bali is the top bucket list destination in the world.Getty
The website surveyed its 1.5 million-strong social audience in order to determine the best bucket list places around the world. According to Sarah Clayton-Lea, head of content with Big 7 Travel, this is the first time the site has assembled this list. "Bucket list travel was a trend that popped up again and again in previous surveys when asking our readers what sort of travel content they most enjoyed consuming," says Clayton-Lea. "So, our curiosity got the better of us and we wanted to know which destinations people are dreaming of for 2019/2020."
READ MORE: "Why You Should Skip Iceland And Go To These 9 Under-the-Radar Places"
The results of the world’s top 50 bucket list destinations include some of the most beautiful places on earth. "White sandy beaches are still a must-visit for many, with vibrant cities also making an appearance on a lot of people’s bucket lists," says Clayton-Lea. Countries with naturally beautiful scenery and world-famous landmarks came out on top: 22% of the destinations on the list have white sandy beaches, while 52% are iconic cities.
The famously colorful Bo Kaap neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa.Getty
In the study, Big 7 Travel found that people were also more likely to add a destination to their list if they had seen it on social media, and 33% of people research vacation destinations on their Instagram feed. "With over one-third of our readers saying they look to Instagram for travel inspiration, it makes sense that cities with colorful neighborhoods (such as Cape Town’s Bo Kaap) made the cut," says Clayton-Lea.
Bali topped the list of the 50 most popular bucket list destination on earth, but there were also some unexpected picks. "The top 10 list has a lot of the expected dream destinations, but there are a few surprises on the list: Paro Valley in Bhutan, for example, or Virunga National Park in the Congo," says Clayton-Lea. "I think this shows a great appetite for a need to get off the grid and can only assume that social media (and Netflix, in the case of Virunga!) is responsible for spreading the word of these amazing places."
An interesting factoid uncovered in the study: Most people have an average bucket list of just 11 places, with the hope of visiting seven of those locations during their lifetime. Read on for the top 50 bucket list destinations in the world and what Big 7 Travel had to say about each one.
Overlooking the jungle on one of Bali's highly Instagrammed swings.Getty
1. Bali, Indonesia: "You’ll find beaches, volcanoes, Komodo dragons and jungles sheltering elephants, orangutans and tigers. Basically, it’s paradise. It’s likely you’ve seen an image of Bali on social media at least once in the past seven days, as it’s such a popular bucket list destination for 2019."
2. New Orleans: "The lively city known for its street music, festive vibe and a melting pot of French, African and American cultures is well worth the trip. NOLA is a city packed with adventures at every turn and should be on everyone’s must-visit list."
3. Kerry, Ireland:" All the way west in Ireland is one of the country’s most scenic counties. Kerry’s mountains, lakes and coasts are postcard-perfect, and that’s before you add in Killarney National Park. The unique small towns such as Dingle add to its charm."
El Badi Palace in the Marrakesh medina.Getty
4. Marrakesh, Morocco: "This ancient walled city is home to mosques, palaces and lush gardens. It’s known as The Red City thanks to the color of the brick walls surrounding the city. The medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre."
5. Sydney: "Sydney is known around the world as one of the greatest and most iconic cities on the planet. Amazing things to do aren’t hard to find; the city has gorgeous beaches, great cafes and world-class entertainment on offer wherever you look."
6. The Maldives: "This tropical nation in the Indian Ocean is made up of more than 1,000 coral islands. It’s home to some of the world’s most luxurious hotel resorts, with white sandy beaches, underwater villas and restaurants and bright blue waters."
7. Paris, France: "One of the most iconic cities in the world, Paris tops many people’s bucket lists. You’ll see so many famous landmarks here: the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame cathedral—the list is never-ending."
8. Cape Town, South Africa: "Cape Town is a dream location to visit: endless natural beauty and clifftop views, pastel pink neighborhoods and turquoise waters."
9. Dubai, U.A.E.: "The high-flying city of the U.A.E, Dubai is one of the most glamorous destinations you’ll ever visit, and is particularly popular with Big 7 Travel readers."
Sunset In Bora Bora, French Polynesia.Getty
10. Bora Bora, French Polynesia: "Bora Bora is Tahiti's most famous island. How do overwater bungalows and underwater adventures sound to you? To us, it’s everything we could want from a bucket list destination."
11. New York: "New York is one of America’s most exciting states. With charming upstate scenery, world-class cuisine and culture and more things to do than you could fit in one lifetime. The city’s five boroughs all have special features; it’s almost impossible to narrow it down"
12. Dubrovnik, Croatia: "As George Bernard Shaw once said, 'Those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik.' With its winding streets, cliffside beach bars and UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town, it’s no wonder Dubrovnik is such a popular spot."
Carlton hill in Edinburgh, Scotland.Getty
13. Edinburgh, Scotland: "With the historic Edinburgh castle looming over the city, culture in spades and wonderfully friendly locals, this is one of the world’s greatest city breaks."
14. Rome, Italy: "Whether it’s your first time in Rome or your 50th, the best thing about this city is that you’ll always discover something new each time you stroll the scenic streets."
15. Paro Valley, Bhutan: Paro Valley is known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes. Tucked between China and India, Bhutan is a mysterious country that prides itself on sustainable tourism. You’ll find Paro Taktsang here, a Himalayan Buddhist sacred site."
At the Jal Mahal Palace at sunset in Jaipur, India.Getty
16. Jaipur, India: "Jaipur is known as the ‘Pink City’ for its pale terracotta buildings. This was originally done to impress the visiting Prince Albert during his 1876 tour of India by order of the Maharaja (Sawai Ram Singh). Even today, it’s illegal to paint buildings any other color."
17. Waikato, New Zealand: "Waikato, a region in New Zealand’s North Island, is home to massive underground caves, lush rainforest and the buzzy city of Hamilton. But the area’s main attraction? A Middle-earth adventure on the film set of Lord of the Rings. Hobbiton Movie Set still has the original Hobbit holes from the making of the films."
18. Havana, Cuba: "Cuba’s capital is almost 500 years old and a riot of color. Brightly painted buildings and vintage cars make Havana a photogenic dream."
A view of Tokyo Skytree and the city skyline from the Tobu Levant Hotel.Photo courtesy of Jonathan Bloom
19. Tokyo, Japan: "Visiting Tokyo is like visiting the future—flashing neon lights, incredible technology—yet there’s still a rich sense of culture and history."
20. Antarctica: "Earth’s southernmost continent, Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime destination. Nowhere else can compare with the extreme remoteness of this snowy place. It’s not an easy trip to make, but you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the white wilderness, icy sea kayaking and whale sightings."
21. Vancouver, Canada: "Vancouver is surrounded by water yet close to the mountains and has world-class art, restaurants and heaps of other attractions to keep you entertained."
22. Los Angeles: "In a city with year-round sunshine, glam bars, beaches and hikes, there are endless incredible experiences to enjoy in Los Angeles. It’s no wonder there are almost 5O million ‘LA’ hashtags on Insta."
In Kruger National Park, South Africa.Getty
23. Kruger National Park, South Africa: "The Kruger National Park is a vast space in northeastern South Africa that is home to a huge array of wildlife. The park has safari experiences of all kinds, allowing you the opportunity to escape busy city living and get back to nature."
24. Santorini, Greece: "Santorini is actually a group of islands; Thíra, Thirassiá, Asproníssi, Palea and Nea Kaméni. Beaches with volcanic black or red sand and clear blue waters make this an ideal holiday spot. With its famous Santorini sunsets, it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most popular bucket list destinations."
25. Moscow, Russia: "Russia’s cosmopolitan capital, Moscow is a beautiful destination to visit in any season. Colorful domes and bell chimes ring out from over 600 churches in the city, and the sense of history is immense. Culture lovers will be impressed with the museums and ballet."
26. Singapore: "Singapore is a small island city-state off southern Malaysia which punches way above its weight on a global level. It’s a modern city with colorful buildings, futuristic bridges and a cloud forest."
London's Westminster Bridge.Getty
27. London, England: "Pretty pink restaurants, futuristic space-age toilets and jungle skyline views are just some of our favorite things about London. And of course, all the classics: Big Ben, red phone boxes and world-class museums and galleries."
28. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: "Rio de Janeiro has always been one of the most iconic cities in the world with instantly recognizable landscapes and landmarks."
29. Petra, Jordan: "The ancient Nabatean city of Petra in southern Jordan is surrounded by beautiful red rocks and steep gorges. The world wonder is without a doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction."
30. Hong Kong: "Famous for its skylines and vibrant food scene, what most people don’t know is that 70% of Hong Kong is mountains and lush parks. Colorful playgrounds and sci-fi apartment blocks give HK an enviable edge."
Beach and sea waves shot from above in Barbados.Getty
31. Barbados: "Barbados is one of those magical holiday destinations that everybody dreams about visiting. Who wouldn’t put this on their bucket list? Nestled in the south of the Caribbean, it offers stunning beauty and wonderful local culture and is the perfect place to unwind."
32. Amsterdam: "Forget about cliched images of smoke shops and gaudy red lights. From floating flower markets to bohemian neighborhoods, this city has it all."
33. Santiago, Chile: "Santiago is a cosmopolitan city with the very best of Chilean culture; art galleries, design shops and handicraft markets, as well as lively Latino nightlife. You’ll stroll through historic neighborhoods with pretty winding streets and charming bars and cafes."
34. Cairo, Egypt: "Cairo is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Sitting on the Nile river with wonderful museums, vibrant culture and friendly locals, it makes for a great holiday."
Biking in Copenhagen.Getty
35. Copenhagen, Denmark: "Copenhagen’s rustic fishing ports, modern graffiti and winding red brick streets are just some of what makes it such a beautiful bucket list destination. It oozes Scandi cool from every corner, with top-notch food, stylish design and an always hip atmosphere."
36. Seoul, Korea: "Seoul is a vibrant metropolis where old-meets-new, with pop culture (K-Pop!) alongside Buddhist temples.
37. Laucala Island Resort, Fiji: "Laucala Island Resort is a private island in Fiji, in absolute paradise. It is one of three small islands off the northeast coast of Taveuni in Fiji. There are coconut trees, a sustainable farm and miles of beach, as well as coral reefs, postcard-perfect beaches and lush rainforest."
38. Providencia, Colombia: "The Colombian island of Providencia is the perfect combination of South America and the Caribbean. It’s best known for Crab Cay: an unspoiled little island where all there is to do is snorkel and lie on the beach."
Photographing Machu Picchu, Peru.Getty
39. Machu Picchu, Peru: "The best way to get here? Arrive at Machu Picchu in style on the 360° Train that will bring you through the Peruvian countryside to the lost city. The wide, panoramic windows are perfect for soaking up the view, plus they serve Pisco Sours on board."
40. Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo: "Virunga National Park is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet and home to the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. It’s full of lush rainforest and has received even more attention since the documentary Virunga."
41. Lisbon, Portugal: "Lisbon, the hilly capital of Portugal, is postcard-perfect with its cobbled streets, pristine waters and local Atlantic beaches."
42. Hanoi, Vietnam: "Hanoi—the capital of Vietnam—is known for its rich history, busy street life and centuries of French, Asian and Chinese influences all blended into one bustling city. It’s a wonderful base from which to explore the North of Vietnam, including Halong Bay and Sapa, while also enjoying the comforts of a modern vibrant city."
A view of Honolulu's Magic Island And Waikiki Beach.Getty
43. Hawaii: "From the hustle and bustle of Oahu to the romance of Maui and off-the-beaten-path adventures on Lanai and Molokai. The Hawaiian Islands are pure paradise. Explore colorful canyons and waterfalls and eat your body weight in fresh poke."
44. Ibiza, Spain: "While you’ll have your fair share of techno club experiences, Ibiza is also one of the most beautiful Spanish islands, with a pretty Old Town and scenic beaches. Spend the day on the beach and the nights in legendary clubs."
45. Beijing, China: "Beijing is China’s political, economic, and cultural center, with six Unesco World Heritage Sites in this city alone. Discover Forbidden City, street food dishes of Peking duck and of course, the Great Wall of China."
46. Budapest, Hungary: "The capital city of Hungary, Budapest is a fairytale city in Eastern Europe. The city itself is separated by the 19th-century Chain Bridge that connects the hilly Buda district with flat Pest—hence the name Budapest."
Photographing Vernazza in Cinque Terre.Getty
47. Cinque Terre, Italy: "Is there anything prettier than this area of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline? The five towns (Manarola, Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare) are made for bucket lists."
48. Buenos Aires, Argentina: "Bookstores set in palatial theatres, tango dancing in the streets and brightly painted neighborhoods. These are just some of what makes Buenos Aires so beautiful."
49. Las Vegas: "With the bright lights, party atmosphere and endless things to see and do, it’s no wonder that Las Vegas has become a glittering global tourism destination. Take a chance in the casinos until the early hours or see world-class entertainment."
50: Matterhorn, Switzerland: "The Matterhorn is one of the world’s most iconic peaks—the pyramid-shaped mountain, which is very difficult to climb, is said to be the most-photographed mountain in the world."
READ MORE:• "Ranked: The 20 Most Dangerous Places to Live"• "Bucket List Travel: The Top 50 Places In The World"• "Why You Should Skip Iceland And Go To These 9 Under-the-Radar Places"• "23 Surprising Things That Will Get You In Trouble In Italy"
• "Bucket List Travel: Top 10 Places In The World And Top 29 In The U.S."
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hellogoodbye14 · 2 years
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Across Enemy Lines - Gwynriel (Part 1)
Synopsis: No one is more surprised when Azriel finds Gwyn across enemy lines. Has everything he known about the priestess been a lie? Or is there more to this game?
New fic Alert!! Been waiting to get this out for so long. (Also new part for “Its Time”- Elucien will be out next xx)
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She is here, Shadowsinger.
Azriel didn’t lift his gaze from the amber liquid swirling in his glass. He kept his gaze downward as he sweeped through all the information his shadows whispered.
The music being played on the violin was fast and loud. The cheers erupted every time a new song finished and folks of Autumn stumbled around plenty in their drunk state in the tavern.
It was the usual, but what was not usual was the priestess making her way through the crowd towards the man in the back.
He waited, he waited until she met the man. A man who stood tall with russet brown hair and a lean figure. She removed her cloak and her gleaming almost red hair made their appearance. She had tied it down in a loose braid today.
The man took her hand and placed a chaste kiss. Like a damn gentleman.
She quickly retrieved it.
The man passed her a piece of paper discreetly and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
She simply nodded and moved towards the exit.
It was time.
Azriel finished his drink in one gulp and threw some coins on the table before leaving.
———————————————���————————
Cauldron this was a mess. She honestly couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe that she had been right in her assumptions.
She kicked a rock in frustration as she made her way down the street.
She had just taken a turn into the alleyway to retrieve her travel bag when a large, warm, calloused hand suddenly curled around her throat from behind. A solid body propelled her forward, caging her against the brick wall; the rough surface grazed her palms. She was just about to try to do this new move Azriel had taught her but the man holding her saw it coming and restrained her.
A hot mouth was then at her ear. “What are you up to Berdara?”
It was a menacing rumble. And a rumble she well recognised.
She sighed in relief.
“You know, there aren’t many people who can creep up on me. You’re good, Shadowsinger.”
He hadn’t made a single sound.
“Answer my question.”
“Okay, can we just talk like mature adults about this?”
A pause. “You have five minutes.”
“I’m gonna need at least ten.”
“I mean you have five minutes to convince me not to snap this pretty little neck.”
He punctuated that with a flex of his already light grip.
“Azriel, I know this looks bad-“
“I didn’t think you a traitor, Gwyn.”
Gwyn gasped in outrage and stomped on his foot.
He only grunted but let go.
She turned towards him, a violent storm brewing in her teal eyes.
“I can’t believe you think I’d betray the Nigh Court.”
“I call it like I see it.”
Gwyn frowned and couldn’t even bother hiding the hurt.
“Talk, Berdara.”
Relentless asshole.
“I will as soon as you stop calling me,Berdara”, she sniffed with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Fine. Talk, Gwyn.”
She raised an eyebrow.
He narrowed his eyes but she didn’t relent. She could be stubborn too.
He rolled his eyes.
“Please.”
She smirked in victory. But her expression quickly sobered up considering what she had to tell him next.
“The Nigh Court is going to get attacked.”
To be continued
Taglist:
@the-lonelybarricade @meher-sumedha @hlizer50 @amb3rpanda @snickerdoodlechittybangbang @sv0430 @shisingh @chubbygabs @trashforazriel @imsointobooks @katekatpattywack @schnipperxd @kneelingsince2012 @vikingmagic33 @brieq @the-word-cas @gellybeangoogle @alexiaperdomo @earthoffemily @sydney-fae25 @camreadsum @imwritingthesewords @almosttenaciousmoon @nestaspegasus @buttoncup
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bumblebeeappletree · 2 years
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youtube
Costa visits a sustainable house and garden, designed to make efficient use of every space. Subscribe 🔔 http://ab.co/GA-subscribe
Mike and his partner bought an unrenovated house on a leafy Mt Colah street 10 years ago. Their garden starts on the verge with edibles, and the front yard is a thriving ‘no dig’ food forest. There’s another obvious sign that there’s something interesting going on here - a community swap stall with seeds, plants and books all enclosed in a big, old red phone box. 
Mike says he’s met more of my neighbours in the last month, than in seven years!
Mike’s aim is to improve livability while caring for the planet. Mike renovated the original house to increase its energy efficiency, with solar water and solar electricity. He’s built a hardwood pergola down the west side of the house which hosts a grapevine that shades the house in summer. It’s the first of many clever structural innovations he has installed in his garden using mostly recycled materials.
Compost System:
The three-bay compost system is built from recycled roof sheets and brick pallets. Liquid from the back of the bays runs and into a well-positioned bucket. Like all the compost, this liquid is then diluted and used on the garden.
Chook House:
The chook house is palatial and has been built using leftovers from the renovation. It’s both vermin and fox proof, and he used the old front door as the human entrance.
Irrigation:
Rainwater is captured across the site, stored and cleverly distributed. Mike has four tanks positioned around the garden that collectively hold 27,000 litres of water. The garden is irrigated via overhead driplines and tank overflows are redirected to garden beds. Storm water from the driveway is redirected into a set of pipes that are re-directed into the garden.
The entire back lawn was dug up to create swales (a series of contoured ditches) designed to slow down water flow and hold it in the soil.
There’s was a rocky outcrop in the backyard where water naturally collected into a pond. Mike has since bricked in the pond, added a bathtub for an outdoor pool for the kids and then found a bathroom basin which he turned into a bird bath.
Wicking Beds:
Mike has made wicking beds from second hand bulk containers. One is used as a liquid fertiliser brewer and the other four have been chopped in half to make 8 wicking beds. The sides of the wicking beds are protected from the sun with recycled zinc aluminium panels take from a roof. The wicking beds are placed in an ‘exclusion zone’, that has been covered with netting to prevent fruit fly, possums and rats making off with the produce.
For Mike, the journey of the garden is infinitely more important than the destination. He’s learnt a lot on the way and is keen to keep learning. It’s inspiring to see what can be achieved in such a short space of time and what will follow, as Mike’s sustainable gardening journey continues to grow.
Featured Plants:
SYDNEY GREEN WATTLE - Acacia decurrens *
THYME - Thymus vulgaris cv.
PINEAPPLE SAGE - Salvia elegans
SILVERBEET - Beta vulgaris cv.
PEACH ‘FLORDAGOLD’ - Prunus persica cv.
QUINCE - Cydonia oblonga cv.
BASIL ‘PERENNIAL’ - Ocimum cv.
FENNEL - Foeniculum vulgare cv. *
* Check before planting: this may be an environmental weed in your area
Filmed on Dharug Country | Mount Colah, NSW
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grad604-melody-tan · 8 months
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Detail of “Jet Lag” (2022) Do Ho Suh, courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, and London
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 Australian artist Tanya Schultz works as Pip & Pop to create immersive installations and artworks from an eclectic range of materials including sugar, glitter, candy, plastic flowers, everyday craft materials and all sorts of objects she finds on her travels.
Her practice embodies both independent and collaborative processes across varying disciplines including installation, painting, wall-works and sculpture.
Often ephemeral, her meticulously constructed and highly detailed works embrace notions of abundance, utopian dreams and fleeting pleasure. She is fascinated with ideas of paradise and wish-fulfillment described in folk tales, mythologies and cinema. 
Pip & Pop began as a collaboration with fellow artist Nicole Andrijevic in 2007. After four years Nicole left the partnership to pursue a different career. Tanya now works solo and with other friends and artists creating projects in many parts of the world.
Tanya has exhibited her work in Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, the UAE and the UK. 
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Artist : JAN KALÁB
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Artist : ESER GÜNDÜZ
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Naoshima, Japan | Pumpkin, Yayoi Kusama
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 Naoshima, Japan | Pumpkin, Yayoi Kusama
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Balloon Dog,Jeff Koons
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Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman‘s Rubber Duck 
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Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The London Mastaba, Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park
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Bertrand Lavier's fountain
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Sydney University Graffiti Tunnel
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Jerkface 🚬 Artist NYC IG: incarceratedjerkfaces
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Public Art - Sky Mirror Anish Kapoor
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Massive mural "Red Brick Building" on Shanghai Street by Italian artist Pixelpancho 
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korvidian · 1 year
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I know some people struggle from memory loss, who can't remember most of their childhoods or life in general, but I suffer from remembering too much, constantly.
I remember being in year 4, at before school care, the exact texture of the hand-smoothed blocks in the building attached to my primary school hall, built the year before, and the exact texture and occasional sparks from our beyblades, and being pushed and having a gender I didn't even care for or believe in dictated to me by a woman more than three times my age named Sylvia, who turned her gaze away whenever there was harassment from kids she'd known for years. I remember the hungry caterpillar on the wall for each month's birthdays, the coloured cloud-shaped paper nearby with greetings in different languages. How much I loved learning those, and my father teaching me in Finnish that had half been beaten out of him through his own schooling far from his original home.
I remember even younger than that, even being 3 and being frustrated I wasn't allowed to go to kindy, 'writing letters' by dictating to myself while drawing looping squiggles like adults did on an old pack of yellow floral edged stationary in the little desk in my father's fourth childhood home here in Australia after they'd settled post the Sydney immigration camp and the first temporary house a few suburbs over once in Queensland.
I remember vividly the house of my grandparents with its Foxtel and how the whole thing shook when the washing machine was on, how there wasn't an oven only a stove, a pressure cooker, a microwave, and an old avocado green Italian espresso machine, and where there was a bunch of sandstone bricks my grandfather 'procured' from helping build the botanic gardens in the city, which were covered by a tarp and, along with the double swing across the yard and next to a large tree, housed many spiders, mostly daddy longlegs, the Australian sort, but always with the threat of red backs and other scarier spiders, so my cousins and I rarely ventured closer except in dire games of tag or a ball or frisbee went too far. The stump where the family's pet cockatoo was caged beside a copse of 'bird trees' always filled with miners and honey eaters and the stragglers in late afternoons who hadn't yet joined the main flock of lorikeets up another half kilometre beyond the large hill and park nearby that dominated my childhood landscape. The barbie rolling suitcase whose contents I'd discarded or traded to cousins for the more practical transport of books or plushies or other more important toys I gave a fuck about.
I remember the exact morning when I broke my arm in year one, a few months after we'd moved, where I still had to awkwardly belly crawl up to drink water out of the fawcets, and the reliable old curved body pillow in its dark green and red and white tartan that supported me after I came off my bike on the neighbour's spilled gravel driveway and my mother complained I was being dramatic and my clearly broken arm was just sprained. I remember too the doctor realising my arm had been set wrong and saying they were out of anaesthetic when he had to rebreak it, and how I couldn't remember properly what came after 14 in my task to count to 20 when he was at his work.
I remember all the awkward school dances, of all the times my peers told me I was weird, days and weeks and months of classes where I was deemed gifted but odd. Being told I was somehow more like a cat than a peer and other classmates agreeing, and somehow understanding what they meant.
Birthdays like one where I was so worried about accidentally giving the birthday girl, a small brown braided girl named Maddison, a game she already had that I had a whole anxiety attack in her bathroom. A sleepover where the host and I were singled out by a popular girl group who had been one of those compulsory invites, and how we had to get parents to come pick people up because they were that awful.
All the way through highschool and university, a time crying after my mother, a source of abuse and neglect through my life, moved out and separated from my father, struggling to feel my way through all the emotions tied to that in one of the towers my friends lived in on campus, the majority of them electing firmly to ignore my obvious tears.
Other times, sitting in plain view in a shared home openly weaping but no one else caring enough or game enough to comfort me, unable to beg for even a bare acknowledgement of my pain for fear they'd ignore me on purpose without deniability, or tell me to stop being like another friend, who while frequently callous and selfish and at times purposely oblivious to the suffering of others, and criticised to the side and frustratedly sighed at, at least does turn up at your side some of the time.
And like... I know, I've heard some of the things they've said about me when they think I haven't heard or haven't covered their screens, and their words carve me out, play on loop, dig hooks into me that have left me so close to the brink no fewer than three times over the past two years that I've had to physically burn letters and evidence after working myself back from the edge to get through.
Forgetting is a blessing at times and I wish it was one that found me more, mostly.
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toysadelaide · 15 days
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The Mega Gemstone dig kit for your kids to experience digging and read about gems.
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National Geographic Gemstone Dig Kit: 
The Mega Gemstone Dig Kit by National Geographic is an educational playset that allows children to dig up their own set of gems. The kit includes a brick which the kids can dig, a chisel and brush as digging tools, a magnifying glass to inspect the gemstones, 15 gemstones and a 16-page learning guide in full color which shows how the gemstones are formed and how they are mined. The 15 genuine gemstones in the brick are pyrite, geode, quartz crystal, amethyst, sodality, rose quartz, fluorite, aragonite, red jasper, hematite, desert rose, agate, snowflake obsidian, tiger’s eye, and aventurine.
https://switchedonkids.com.au/product/national-geographic-gemstone-dig-kit/
#australia #adelaide #sydney #melbourne #perth #brisbane #toys #school #kids #play #educational #learning #studygram #study #uniquegiftideasforkids#educationaltoysforkids #CreativesToys
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cars4starters · 3 months
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Did I ever tell you about Stephen Hawkins . . .  the kid who lived down the road? It was the Sixties and we lived in a quiet cul-de-sac in Sydney’s Northern Districts Bible Belt. Me, my younger brother, my mother and father, and later my adopted sister. The skyline was dominated by a huge green 'gasometer' (look that one up) that expanded and contracted with demand. We'd spent months living in a caravan on the Northern Beaches while we built the three bedroom, red brick veneer place, with its wrought iron fenced patio and curiously named breezeway, that provided vehicular access to the backyard. My father ran his own business back then and in his spare time built a plywood sail boat in the garage which sadly after years of neglect was unceremoniously pushed off the trailer at the tip. From our place we were able to walk to school a few streets away during the week (raincoats and galoshes in the rain), we played soccer for the local church on Saturdays, then trooped dutifully off to Sunday school the next day. In between these activities, we ranged far and wide, across the district in search of adventure -- with or without permission I can't remember? There were no such things as sexual predators back then. Nothing could touch us. We were invincible. We lived at the top of the street, just before the turnaround, where they were always putting up new homes. These provided the materials for the billy karts with ball bearing wheels that we raced noisily down the concrete lane between our street and the next. We honed our fighting skills with wooden swords made from off cuts and karate kicked our way through the sheets of fibro-asbestos that we found in abundance. We didn't know about asbestos back then either. Anyway, Hawkins lived at the bottom of the hill next to the park with its swings and seesaws and slippery dip -- and the thingy that went round and round. Overhead a power line split the park and we kicked a ball over it, using it as a dividing line for a game we called forcings back. The swings got a pretty rough time, as we stood chain in each hand, soaring higher and higher, finally letting go and jumping through the air to see who could fly the furthest. The burning hot, steel slippery dip was located next to the side fence of the park and from the top we could see into the Hawkins' backyard with its veggie patch and blue Clarke pool. I think Mr Hawkins with his green Zephyr or was it a Ford Prefect, was a bus driver or something like that? I can’t remember ever swimming in their pool, but I can remember throwing dog poo into it from the top of the slippery dip. Yuk. I hear you say. It was a terrible thing to do, I agree. But hey, we were kids -- we thought it was incredibly funny. Truth be known we were probably a little jealous of Hawkins because he was an only child and that came with certain privileges, like the shiny new bike he got for Christmas. My brother and I on the other hand had to make do with hand-painted, second hand bikes (guess the business wasn't going so good). But we fixed Hawkins -- we fixed him good. It was Christmas Day and he was riding up and down the street, parading in front of us, his bike all nice and new with tassels dangling from the ends of the handlebars. It was hot and a group of us watched greedily from the shade of a tree opposite the park. I don’t know whose idea it was but it seemed like a pretty good idea at the time. And I can’t remember where the tacks came from, either -- probably the Haileys' place? We waited until Hawkins was riding away, with his back to us before dashing out on to the road and placing the tacks, pointy end up in the hot, soft bitumen. Well, you can imagine what happened next . . . He made it up and back one more time before the nasty little buggers found their mark. We saw him stop and get off his bike at the end of the street where it met the main road. Shoulders heaving, tears streaming down his cheeks, he was forced to wheel the bike home, back past the little terrors snickering under the tree.
Did we say anything? I can’t remember. Probably. Children can be so cruel. Did we get into trouble? Did we ever. I can only remember being given the strap once, but it must have been for this (or perhaps for throwing rocks and smashing our neighbour's green house). Hawkins got his own back though. Sometime later one of the other kids hit me in the head in a rock fight, drawing plenty of blood, which sent me howling to Mrs Hawkins for help. I couldn't believe it when she shooed me away, telling me to go find my mother. I mean, she was a parent? This all happened half a century ago now, but Stephen, if you're out there, I owe you a huge apology mate and probably a new tyre -- although the dragster is no doubt long gone by now. In those days kids roamed far and wide on their dragsters. CHECKOUT: Dad’s first car was a Riley — no kidding! CHECKOUT: Porsche impounded in greatest prank ever
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This Australian family declined to sell their home to developers — now the property is surrounded by a suburb and could be worth $33 million. Why land is the ultimate hold
Nothing says “stick it to the man” quite like holding on to your precious property, despite it being worth millions of dollars, as developers build an entire suburb around you.
That’s exactly what one Australian family seems to have done.
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The Zammit family reportedly refused to sell their five acres of land, even as rows and rows of new homes popped up around them. One real estate agent estimated the Zammit property value to be just shy of 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) in new developments, Australia's 7News reported in March of last year.
The home is located about a 40-minute drive from the center of Sydney, the country’s largest city, on what once was “farmland dotted with little red-brick homes and cottages,” Diane Zammit told the Daily Mail. Today, however, it's dominated by two-storey houses situated so close together that many of them are separated by mere inches.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/australian-family-didnt-sell-home-170000284.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALcJAM8jXJzi52M_bpLWC5xzDckmd9I5l198TBdXJYVe5sxnkb2uTREgIXReo9I57HcYikv-6pQylyt1PkeZmlIHrkEe2nc4K2zWQkHHE7DS7RMnPHuFkZBB1o91BsHSVZvMGIHdfE2nnGc0FNTWb54-WkA0lueZTNHz6gx1wlqa  
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vanishingsydney · 2 years
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1930's era art deco apartment building, in "Sydney Red Brick".  Lewisham.
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lindestrange04 · 10 months
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Sydney Rental ad is Brutally Mocked Online Following Bizarre Photoshopping
A rental advertisement for two-bedroom homes in Sydney has been slammed online for its use of 'cartoon furniture'.
After the Domain listing was posted on Facebook, the house on Belmore Street in Rozelle became a laughing stock
The house is described as 'brand new' with 'carpet all over' with a 'separate lounge' as well as a neat kitchen two bedrooms, a bathroom and the garden is well-maintained.
A Sydney rental advertisement for a house that has two bedrooms was mocked on the internet because it featured "cartoon furniture".
After the listing was put up on Facebook by Humans of Eastwood Daily, the apartment on Belmore Street in Rozelle became an internet sensation.
The photos tell the opposite, with fake furniture being displayed throughout the home.
The living room is decorated with a bright red sofa with a cartoon fireplace and TV.
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The furniture that computers create throughout the house, including the backyard dining table, bedroom, is also computer-generated.
The post went viral and hundreds people wrote comments, joking that the listing was like playing a computer game.
The house is described as being 'brand new' and has 'carpet throughout' with a 'separate lounge' as well as well-designed kitchen two bedrooms with a bathroom and a courtyard. The furniture was taken from photoshopped
The photos , however, tell a different story. They show fake photos that computers have taken all over the home and garden.
'Wanna play sims?' One person asked.
Another said, "The metaverse exists now." Art talk
"He had a mate who knew someone who could make it cheaper ...' and he joked about it.
"Reminds me of the nightmare I have, where I am trapped in a pool or a burning house without a way out. My karma for how I dealt with my Sims 20 years ago", wrote another.
"Comes with NFT furniture," said one.
In the living room , there was a bright red couch, with cartoon fireplace and a TV. The dining table, garden , and bedroom furniture were all computer generated too
LJ Hooker, a real estate agent, advertised the property and admitted that it was an inside job. Mary Aidonas, a realtor said to Yahoo News Australia that it was her little fake furniture. She admitted she wasn't an expert in graphic design, but decided to give the idea a go.
'Is this is from Minecraft or Minecraft?' another person asked.
LJ Hooker, a real estate agent, advertised the property, and admitted that it was an inside job.
Mary Aidonas, a realtor, said to Yahoo News Australia that it was her little fake furniture. She admitted that she wasn't an expert in graphic design but gave it a try.
'It is taken from Paint the latest Paint and you are able to select furniture, so it was what came up", she said.
People laughed that the house looked like a 'early noughties video game' and people talking about it as Sims and Minecraft
The home is covered in fake furniture, which includes bizarre signs, and fireplaces, and numerous sofas
'I stretched it out and I thought, "oh it looks alright" at the moment, and I thought we could get some attention for it, since the property has been inactive for quite a long time.'
She appears to have taken the reaction in good faith,, saying there's no such thing as 'bad press'.
I didn't realize it would get this kind of response.
Someone has already sent an email her, and she asks, "why does the furniture look like it's taken from a video game released in early 2000s."
"Well, maybe that's where the application was able to get it."
Earlier this month, real estate agent Property Gurus South Australia left viewers in awe over its bizarre photoshopping. The four-bedroom brick home was advertised by the agent in Elizabeth Downs, North Adelaide for $350,000.
Property Gurus South Australia, an agency for real estate that has left people stunned by its bizarre photoshopping earlier in the month.
The agent advertised a four bedroom brick house in Elizabeth Downs, north Adelaide for $350,000.
But the listing has now been viewed by thousands of homeowners mocking how poorly the property's lush lawns in the front and back appears to be.
'That's the new strain of grass known as 'Chernobyl', you should see it at night time,' one house-hunter quipped - referring to the Ukrainian town where a nuclear power plant melted down in 1986.
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patecostello54 · 1 year
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Benefits Of Using Sandstone Pavers For Paving Paths And Park Avenues
Paver is basically a pre-cast piece consisting of bricks, concrete or stones which is generally employed for exterior landscaping applications. They were initially manufactured in Europe; thereafter they were distributed with parts of the planet. Interlocking pavers are prepared by installing a tough stone over the compact stone made sub base and sand beds. They're generally used for paving driveways, docks, walkways, balconies, pools and patios. Sandstone is a very common material employed for designing pavers. Most homeowners would rather have sandstone pavers of their homes. Sandstone pavers can be found in several beautiful textures. They're beautiful, versatile and elegant, radiating warmth and wonder inside their surroundings. Further, use of subtle color combinations ensures that they appear stunning. These pavers are great for all weathers and environment types. Because of their neutral shades, they remain cool in summers and warm during winters. When people say sandstone is a long-lasting material, they're being truthful! Sandstone made pavers and tiles when sealed with suitable sealant, takes a longer time of your energy. Proper sealing checks the entry of moisture inside. This makes sandstone resistant to daily wear, climatic aberration or corrosion. sandstone retaining walls sydney make great inclusions in public places, homes, commercial complexes as well as other structures. They can be found in various designs, shapes and forms so that you can easily make use of them everywhere! Further, due to water-resistant properties, these stones are useful for constructing fountains, garden idols and pools. Sandstone pavers can be found in selection of shades. You can co-ordinate these with along with of one's room to be able to complement your interiors. Deep brown, auburn and chocolate colored sandstone has high quantity of iron oxide. It can easily camouflage marks. Yellow sandstone is used for paving saltwater pools because it is resistant to saline winds or acidic water. Beige, cream, light grey and white shades consist of purple or red veins that are lines that trace the entry of water inside. These stones are used by creating idols. Red, scarlet or pink sandstone is soft, smooth and non-slippery. It includes uniform grains and are available with polishes, sawn or rough surfaces. They're tolerant to natural changes and weathering therefore they're used by paving roads or put to ornate uses. In case you'd like your home interiors and exteriors to appear beautiful, you should use sandstone pavers for lining your falls, pavements and walls!
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joynerkyed30 · 1 year
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Purchase Sandstone Blocks For Constructing Beautiful Homes
Sandstone, a famous sedimentary rock contains feldspar and quartz grains. Since past handful of centuries, sandstone has been used being a construction material out of its durability and strength. Besides having unique shades and inherent beauty, this stone looks attractive when used by building luxurious bungalows therefore many constructors prefer sandstone blocks for condos. Sandstone blocks that are used for construction are first crushed and broken into fine gravel like powdery substance. Thereafter sandstone steps sydney 's blended with concrete so that you can manufacture ornamental bricks and round stones. These reconstituted bricks are used for paving avenues too. Sandstone is a type of selection for making stones because it really is trendy and radiates a vintage appearance. It is great for both commercial too as residential structures. In addition to this, it really is hard and resistant against corrosion, acid rains or harsh climatic conditions therefore most builders use sandstone blocks like a flagstone material for building patios, walls or put on the extender in a very tile like format for covering up garden grounds, bathroom floors and kitchen countertops. This material is proof against slips and spills. Moreover, it really is also used being a finishing material for other blocks because of its rough textures. Sandstone blocks can be modified and combined with a lot of other stones and materials for several applications. Unlike regular red bricks or concrete which can be monotonous, plain and lifeless, sandstone however is available in numerous vibrant shades. This color variation basically is dependent upon the positioning that yields these rocks. Due to use of lots of colors like yellow, red, brown, chocolate, orange, beige and cream these rocks are used for lining ceilings and walls. You can use color coordinated sandstone tiles for decorating the walls of one's sitting room and guest room. If you're thinking of purchasing modified or reconstituted sandstone blocks for your household, you can get them from any someone's place of business that supplies building materials. Check out newspaper classifieds or search through local telephone directories an internet-based websites so that you can find the very best sandstone dealer or your city. Some vendors offer whole sandstone, crushed sandstone or small gravel like sandstone pebbles, based upon customer requirements. Before purchasing sandstone blocks, you may also call any local recyclers so that you can find recycled sandstone that's purchased from demolition projects and leftover construction materials. Thus, you may get these blocks for half industry rates!
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Sydney Rental ad is Brutally Mocked Online after Bizarre Photoshopping
A Sydney rental advertisement for a home with two bedrooms was slammed on the internet because it featured "cartoon furniture".
The house located on Belmore Street in Rozelle has turned into a laughing matter after the Domain listing was made public on the Facebook. Humans of Eastwood Daily
The house is described as 'brand new' and has 'carpet throughout' with a 'separate lounge' , a an elegant kitchen with two bedrooms, a bathroom and landscaped courtyard.
A Sydney rental listing for a house with two bedrooms was brutally mocked online due to the use of "cartoon furniture".
The property located on Belmore Street in Rozelle has become a laughing stock after the listing was shared on Facebook page Humans of Eastwood Daily
The photos tell an entirely different picture with fake furniture displayed all over the house.
In the living room there is a bright red couch and a cartoon fireplace and TV.
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"She isn't a natural presenter!" Our Yorkshire Farm's Amanda...
The computer generated furniture throughout the home, including the garden, dining table, and bedroom, are also computer-generated.
The now viral listing saw hundreds of people comment joking it was like a computer game.
The house is described as being 'brand new' with 'carpet throughout' with a 'separate lounge' , a neat kitchen two bedrooms with a bathroom and a courtyard. All furniture was photographed.
The photos , however, provide a different picture. They show fake images that computers have taken all over the home and garden.
'Wanna play sims?' one person commented.
The metaverse is now an illusion,' said a third.
He had a friend who knew someone who could do it for less ...' joked one.
"Reminds me of the nightmare I have where I'm stuck in a swimming pool or a burning house and have no escape route. It's a retribution for the way I dealt with my Sims 20 years ago,' wrote another. Wicked frise
"Comes with NFT furniture," said one.
In the living area there was a bright red couch with cartoon fireplace and a TV. The dining table, garden and bedroom furniture were all computer generated too
LJ Hooker, a real estate agent, advertised the property and admitted it was an inside job. Realtor Mary Aidonas told Yahoo News Australia it was her "little fake furniture' and said she was not an expert at graphic design but 'gave it a shot'.
"Is this from Minecraft or Minecraft?' Another person inquired.
LJ Hooker, a real estate agent, advertised the property and admitted that it was an inside job.
Realtor Mary Aidonas told Yahoo News Australia that it was her 'fake furniture' and said she was 'not an expert' in graphic design, but 'gave it a shot'.
"It's from Paint, the brand new Paint and you are able to pick furniture, and so that's what was suggested,' she said.
People joked the home looked like a 'early noughties video game' and people comparing it to Sims and Minecraft
The home is covered in fake furniture - including strange signs, the fire place, as well as multiple sofas
"I stretched it out, and I thought, "oh, it looks good" at the time. I was thinking we could be able to get some attention for it, since the property had been dormant so long.
She appears to take the reaction in good faith, however, saying there's no such thing as 'bad press'.
'I didn't know that it would get such a response.
Someone has already emailed, she goes, "why does the furniture appear to be from a video game released in early 2000s."
'Well maybe that is where the application came from.'
Property Gurus South Australia, an agency for real estate that has left people stunned by its bizarre photoshopping earlier in the month. The brick home with four bedrooms was advertised by the agent in Elizabeth Downs, North Adelaide for $350,000.
Property Gurus South Australia, an agency for real estate, left internet users shocked by its bizarre photoshop earlier in the month.
The agent advertised the four bedroom brick home in Elizabeth Downs, north Adelaide, for $350,000.
The advertisement went viral online and house hunters mocked the poor Photoshopping of the house's lush front lawn and backyard.
One house hunter said, "That's the new grass strain known as Chernobyl, you should be able to see them at night," referring to the Ukrainian town that was the home of an nuclear power plant which was destroyed in 1986.
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