Monthly Archives: April 2022

dating, sex

She’s just looking for friends

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It can be hard to accept, but a lot of women are only interested in being your friend. Even if the issue of sex is impossible to avoid, that attractive woman who smiles at you is probably being polite or friendly.

Yet when it comes to Asian woman, we forget that not all of them want to sleep with the first white guy they meet. Yes, I’m probably guilty of that assumption sometimes. But what if you are ok with the idea of being her friend, and nothing more? Was she lying on her tinder profile when she said she was looking for friends?

Assuming that you are both on the same page and want to keep things platonic, how does it work in reality? Movies and sitcoms make it all look straightforward, don’t they?Nevertheless, I still think that it’s hard for men to just be friends with a nice woman. Men aren’t really trusted to have female friends. That goes double for men in relationships. Just imagine that a guy wants to be friends with a woman who is in a relationship with someone. It’s unlikely she will return his offer, no matter that his intentions to her are honest. Yet a woman could I ask a married man for his number, and no-one would care. Are there double standards going on here? Who knows.

The fact is, I bet a lot of men would kill to have a smart and funny female friend just to hang with and nothing more. Yet society continues to pump out the message that friendship between men and women is not achievable, and men follow suit, swallowing the myth in toto. And men can’t be just friends with a woman, whether they are in a relationship or not. Or they are simply scared, don’t want to be judged for hanging out with a woman they aren’t sleeping with. Then they realise that their friendship groups consist of the same friends they’ve had since middle school. And they wonder why they struggle to relate to women?

mean while, women get all the benefits of having men who want to sleep with them, the men who want just to be friends and love them for their company. Hence, the social life of women is that much more varied, richer, and just more interesting than that of most men.

I learned this the hard way when I tried to ask a girl out. She had made it clear that she had a boyfriend, and when she didn’t volunteer her phone number, I made do with Instagram, Needless to say, she didn’t respond to either of my messages I sent her. Yet, if she could be prepared to be open-minded, we could have a really good platonic relationship together.

Being just friends is something woman can get away with when it comes to a male friend, but it’s something which people are less accepting when it comes to men and their female friends. No matter how advanced we are, this is one rule that refuses to die.

Travel

London’s best value 4*Hotel

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London isn’t known for being good value, so when you do manage to find a bargain it’s all the more satisfying. Yet I managed to find a great hotel during the holiday season, and it wasn’t difficult! https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/park-plaza-london-park-royal

the brand-new, 4 Star hotel looks the part inside and out

I stay in a lot of hotels. I don’t get paid to travel and I’m not on business. So I need to look around to find somewhere nice, in a good location, and a main Hotel brand that has a loyalty scheme. The best offers for rooms tend to be off-season, or on quieter days. You get a cheaper room rate if you stay on Sunday than Friday night. Following this rule will only get you so far, though. On the whole, an average price for a 3-star hotel in London will be $148 (thanks Google). and a lot of hotels at his rate will only offer very small rooms, middling to poor service, or be old and tired inside. And 3-star hotels don’t offer much for service, or provide extras (gyms, free breakfast or late check-out).

Finding a VFM 4 star Hotel in London

You don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds a night for the kind of luxury you think you need. Yes, the top hotels are going to be out of reach for most travellers. But, looking outside the centre, you can find some real bargains!

Smart, modern design and a comfortable room in Park Plaza, Park Royal.

Last year I booked a room mid-week in London that I was not expecting anything from. By chance, it turned out to be my best London Hotel stay of the year. Most people would struggle to find any decent hotel in central London for under 100, even under 200 would be pushing it. However, the Park Plaza Park Royal is a fantastic hotel that simply cannot be beaten for price or quality.

The hotel is recently built so you don’t see any of the dodgy plumbing, tired wall paper or slow, out of work lifts. the building is fully up to date. Here’s a quick breakdown of my trip.

Location

Location might be your top priority, and whilst the hotel is not central London, it’s next to a tube station (Park Royal), and it’s near Wembley Stadium, which is one of the main tourist attractions in the capital. And it’s 45 minutes from Heathrow, which is really not that far.

check-in

I had received emails regarding check-in, but I checked in at the desk. It was well-staffed. I certainly didn’t need to wait long to be served.

Reception and lobby

the hotel offers a modern and slightly opulent design. You don’t feel like you are in Wembley next to a busy fly-over. The Staff uniforms are elegant and understated, plus the lobby is spaced out so you don’t feel crowded, and the place is quiet without being devoid of character.

The room

The room was a decent size. There was a well-appointed bathroom. The bed was thick , comfortable and spacious. I was more than satisfied by the room’s furniture and design.

Nice modern fittings in the bathroom

Tea and coffee

There was a kettle with tea bags and coffee sachets for making hot drinks, as well as fridge with complimentary bottled water.

TV/satelite

The TV was fixed to the wall and was a good size. the channels were mainly standard ‘Freeview’ offerings.

Bed.

With a leather headboard, high thread count, you’ll want to bed down once you come inside.

I had no problems sleeping in the room and the bed was luxurious, I couldn’t wait to hunker down.

Breakfast included?

Yes, they gave me breakfast at no extra cost, the buffet was very full and the staff were not putting anyone in a hurry to finish their breakfast. There were options to order from the menu as well as a full hot English breakfast.

Checkout

I checked out past one. I was very comfortable in the hotel. There is a large waiting area past the lobby where you can relax, read magazines and just chill.

Verdict

this is an absolute bargain for London. You are right next to tube station that connects you to central London in around 20 minutes. You aren’t staying a stones throw from the palace, but do you really need to be ? For less than a £100 – the hotel offers stylish design, great service, and breakfast. For even a 3-star hotel like a Hampton in a more central area you would pay more than double that. This puts Park Plaza at number one for best value hotel in London. This is ideal both for business and leisure travellers. I’m glad I made this choice and I look forward to staying in more Park Plaza hotels.

The smart, modern and relaxing lobby is perfect for a casual meeting.
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Thailand is back open for foreign tourists

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After two years, Thalailand is fully open for international travellers.

The country has seen most of its famous landmarks closed to tourists, but it now looks as though the country is ready to welcome tourists with open arms.

Before April 2022, the requirement for international tourists was that they needed to show a negative PCR test before arrival. However, this can be done and it is necessarily required to get ‘Thailand Pass’. All applicants using the ‘Test and Go Scheme’ must upload several documents to apply for Thailand Pass QR Code. (a copy of passport / insurance certification with a minimum coverage of USD 20,000 / vaccination certificate / the payment confirmation of SHA Extra+ hotels which also includes the receipt of a pre-paid COVID-19 RT-PCR test on day 1, ATK self-test on day 5-6 and airport transfer.) Plus, all tourists are required to upload their RT-PCR and ATK self-test results to the Thailand Travel Pass app (called ‘Morchana’). https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thaialert.app&hl=en_GB&gl=US

It’s great to be back!

(According to official information, tourists will get ATK self-test instead of RT-PCR after arrival from May 2022. The price for tests will be reduced).

The beautiful Royal Cliff Beach Resort

We spent one night in the government approved quarantine hotel, and after that we were free to travel to Pattaya. As you can see, the hotel was comfortable and didn’t present any hardship.

The comfortable bed where we spent a single night of quarantine before we were free to travel in Pattaya.

Airlines have seen increased booking to the country and flights are expected to increase for the summer season. https://www.thaiairways.com/

The resort we stayed in in Pattaya was doing a good trade and we are happy to announce that mask-wearing was not enforced, even in the busy nightclubs.

One of the many bars doing a roaring trade, in post-Covid Pattaya.

This time I visited was Songkran which is one of the most famous festivals in the world. The airlines and hotels have seen increased booking to the country and they are expected to increase for this season. I’ve expected many activities throughout Thailand (especially Sprinkling water!!) but it stopped because of pandemic. The festival usually involves some pretty wild water fights – with people getting crazy – but it was not allowed this year.

I Stayed at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya, and Cape Dara Beach Front Resort. There were few foreigners stayed, mostly local people celebrated Thai New Year.

We Stayed at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya, and Cape Dara Beach Front Resort. https://www.royalcliff.com/

I participated in a salsa club in Pattaya

I’ve visited here 4 years ago before the pandemic. The streets were so crowded; full of tourists and most shops were busy day and night, but I could see some stores were ruined because of the shutdown order that was issued due to COVID-19.

You can see how people have ignored the rules on mask-wearing.

The resorts we stayed in Pattaya were doing a good trade and I am happy to announce that mask-wearing was not enforced, even in the busy nightclubs. It looks like the care-free travel days of the pre-covid era are becoming a reality again.

Article idea by Puruna Jo. Photography by Puruna Jo.

For more information on planning a trip to Thailand, visit Fanclub Thailand. https://fanclubthailand.co.uk/

Travel

Chessington World Of Adventures: is it a good day out?

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Billed as Britain’s Wildest Adventure , Chessington is a theme park and zoo combined! It has millions of visitor each year and is one of the famous parks owned by Merlin There are many good things about the park so explaining why it’s so popular is not difficult. But first, a quick guide to the park for those who haven’t taken the trip yet.

Situated in a town in south west London, Chessington aims to provide a fun day out for the family, with several themed sections (or lands) of the park that combine rides with animal enclosures and even special performances throughout the year! The park was opened as a home for exotic animals in the 1930s, and was a zoo up until the first ride opened in 1991. Now it is home to some twenty rides, some quite fast whereas others are for smaller children and less exciting.

Over the years as the rides have increased but the animals have continued to provide interest for all visitors. The safari ride, Journey into Africa is still a big draw. There is now a four star hotel for guests who want to make a longer break in the park.

Arriving at the park, most visitors will come to the large carparks that bring them to the Adventure point. The park is divided into themed areas, all of which have their own distinctive look and feel. Although the park has a lot of branding, it feels slightly less co-ordinated than when it was a different place in the nineties. the arrival of the room in the broom tie-in experience shows that the park has been able to make a deal with the publishers for the characters of the story.

What used to be the Bubbleworks is now a Gruffalo Ride, which is very much aimed at younger children. The park’s famous Vampire ride still takes pride of place, although seems to have less in terms of fear than it used to as the ride has seen more scary rides eclipse it.

Mexicana

Now we come to one of the best areas of the park. Taking a cue from the Wild West, the area has some cool stylings in the buildings that look like colourful storehouses and cantinas. There are two good rides here. The Rattlesnakes (a cart style ride that has a rickety looking track) and a runaway Train ride ‘Scorpion Express’. The area of the park manages to incorporate food offerings in a more subtle way; Tortilla restuarant sits in the centre of the area, giving you a view of the rides whether you sit in or out. There are even some jars of animal skeletons, and some animatronic figures by rattlesnakes that add to the carnivalesque atmosphere.

The Forbidden Kingdom

Just as you leave Mexicana, you will see the new Croc Ride. The jaws of the crocodile open to allow the vertical ride to drop the riders down to the depths. This was previously Rameses Revenge. Some would say that the new ride is not in the same league. True, it doesn’t have the same fear factor, it simply drops from the same position. however, the ride gives a great 360 view of the entire park, and uses some Egyptian curse ideas to give it some stylistic grounding in the area. Another ride that some love is Tomb Blaster! It’s a more immersive ride that takes place entirely indoors. Riders are given laser style GUNS and must ‘blast’ various targets. As a dark ride it could have been more scary but it’s a little too family friendly for that. Overall, the forbidden kingdom has some nice touches but it’s not the most enjoyable section of the park.

Wild Asia/land of the tigers.

Here we come to my favourite section of the park! The area was once known as ‘Beanoland’ but it has been completely revamped to look like jungle India and Thailand. It looks particularly fitting when you visit on a hot day – the grey concrete buildings reflect the sunlight – helping to create a sense of the exotic. The three big rides are all worth visiting. First, head to Monkey Swingers, the carousel style swing seat ride has some vertigo inducing moments as the seats ride into the air – and you can feel the wind blow towards you when you kick out your seat. Kobra is a nice ride that is very smooth – taking you back and forth on a rotating disc in the shape of a giant snakes head. But nothing can beat the Land of the tigers and Tiger Rock. The most spacious area is home to the superb log ride which goes through the tiger’s enclosure, hence the name! you can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet here as you walk past the streams and Chinese style bridge. My only complaint is that the area doesn’t offer any Chinese food. Some noodles, dumplings or fried rice would tie in nicely with the oriental theme, and offer something far more varied than the current food offerings.

Is it worth a visit?

Yes, we feel that, given the amount of activities in the park, it is worth going to at least once. Chessington is not a cheap day out, and it’s very commercial. It can seem as though every part of the park is designed to take money out of your pocket. You can save money by doing the following: arrive by public transport, saving petrol and car park fees. Bring your own food and drink. There is nothing to stop you from taking a packed lunch, and Chessington has a picnic area near the car parks. If you do visit a restaurant, Tortilla would be my pick. The food is good quality, and you get a good serving, as well as a nice seating area.

Caution

Some of the downmarket clientele at the park.

We love Chessington. but we have noticed that it tends to attract a somewhat downmarket clientele. Some may think that you need to wear a tracksuit and have tattoos covering your face and neck to fit in. That’s true for many, but not everyone here is like that. If you feel that it’s going to be a problem by all means you can avoid the park. But you will be missing a lot of the innocent fun of the theme park. https://www.chessington.com/

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How to kiss a girl in a way that she has never been kissed before

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The first kiss doesn’t need to be perfect; however, its shouldn’t be bad. An impeccable timing, a great environment, perfect movements, and subtle gestures create an ideal kiss. How to kiss a girl? Before I provide you with the ways to make a perfect kiss, you must ensure the timing. It would be best if you weren’t too quick to kiss a girl into a relationship but be sure not to do it too soon. Ensure the timing is right and that your girl does not stop the kiss. When you’re certain, this is the case, apply the best way to do it and make her want more.

Get Ready

If you’re hoping to get kissed, make sure that your mouth is suitable for kissing. Before leaving home, make sure you stop at the bathroom and get your mouth ready. Make sure to clean your teeth in order to eliminate any leftovers from your lunch and freshen up your breath. A bit of mouthwash is never a bad thing either. Women love men with beards, but they don’t want their mouths full of beards when they get the kiss.

Remove your beard of any stray hairs, and make sure that you don’t have any hanging on your lips. Manage the tangle using beard oil and observe as your hands float up for an experience. Make sure that your lips feel soft and moisturized by applying balm to your lips. Nothing can hinder a kiss more than chapped, dry lips. It is the best way to make kissing much more pleasurable for both of you.

Make Your Lips Nice, Soft, And Kissable

Lips with cracks are not just unpleasant, and they also cause irritation or discomfort to your kissee’s lips. If your lips appear dry or chapped, take a moment to moisturize them. It’s not necessary to overdo it, but be sure to do a quick examination before your date. This will help you significantly how to lead up to it.

It’s probably a good idea to avoid using perfumed lip balms as a girl typically doesn’t expect her man’s lips to smell vanilla, strawberry, or peach. But, it’s certainly not the most unpleasant thing that could happen and may cause some conversations after the kiss.

Make Sure She Wants To Kiss You

The process of obtaining permission to kiss someone isn’t an option lightly, and it is what a girl likes, considering kissing someone else’s body can be very uncomfortable (which is why it’s thrilling). If it’s done correctly, everybody has a wonderful time. So, how do you obtain permission? There are two methods to get permission: that is to ask her in your own words to kiss them. Another is to determine from their body language if they are interested in being kissed before “offering” one to them.

Use Your Hands

If you are bending your head to hug your girl and you get the kisses returned gracefully, the hands should be involved in making the experience more enjoyable. Keep her close to let her know that you are the person you want to be with and remain in the proper posture, and gently rub her shoulders as well as her face and body or perhaps hold her in your arms when you are both standing in a seated position. This can elevate the experience to the next stage. This is how she wants to be kissed by a man.

Do not be the guy who kisses too hard and intimately. Body intimacy is essential in a kiss, particularly when you feel that you want to be intimate and not just a normal kiss but rather be soft when you do it. The neck, below her jawbone, beneath the earlobe, around the nose tip, collarbone, as well as forehead and shoulder are other important areas to kiss a girl. Or gently kiss with your soft palms while placing your lips on hers.

Conclusion

Now you are able to kiss with confidence and how to begin your kissing journey and attract a girl’s attention as you go about it. But knowing how you can kiss someone is only half the challenge. It is essential to practice and practice it. Therefore, go ahead and approach someone you love, have a try at flirty with her, and begin to make your way into the kissing scene!

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Madison Beer Life Support Tour

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After waiting seven years, Madison released her album Life Support in 2021.. .Although the album has had mixed responses from critics, it’s clear from watching the 23 year old live that there Is more to her than just a social media personality. The star gave a personal, yet melodramatic performance full of heartbreak and some sexuality, that was truly adored by her largely teenage fanbase.

The singer’s set design included an LED frame to allow the singer to be transported across the stage. For the first song BABY, Madison leaned forward in the frame and was backed by two dancers who were wearing similar tight bustier style lace outfits.

The lighting was neon blues and pinks that sometimes made it hard to see the singer. And there was plenty of drama from the projected imagery, some of it using video footage form her songs, and printed lyrics that were shown as diary entries.  Most of the songs came from her major album release, Life Support. The opening number was BABY, which had the crowd belting out the sexually confident lyrics. Stained glass was so powerful, and the singer came into her own on that track, really exuding a rock -star stage presence. Another major track was the moving ‘Reckless’. How could you be so Reckless with my heart? The singer cried , yet as the song reached its finale she was more vengeful, inviting the audience to sing the line ‘I hope you both go to hell.’

What else? There was the futuristic sounding ‘Follow the White Rabbit’; the singer performed it with a rabbit ear gesture. The song ‘Boyshit’, surely one of her best, was near the end. There were so many perfect moments: the songs from the album that mean so much to her fans were all breathlessly belted out by the crowd. They are mostly three minutes or less – here the signer used a background track instead of her band; there was no doubting the signer’s power and vocal range. The concert finished with a beautiful eruption of white confetti. And then the signer was gone, but she lighted the audience by coming out on stage to dance along to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now.

We are witnessing a genuine new talent.

Travel

QUEENS SKATE DINE BOWL – why I love it

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A short video I made showining ice-skating rink at Queensway

Get your Skates on!

The Skating rink at Queens is a funky and cool place, partly because it brings out everyone from dating couples, young people, kids, and elders. Although there is an image of skating and bowling as being a bit downmarket, it’s not really the case in the Queens skate dine bowl.

The location helps give it some class. Next to Queensway tube, West London, the area is next to some of the biggest consulates, as well as nearby Kensington Palace. The venue does get some idiots, mainly rough kids from some of the housing estates. On the other hand, you will see many young Chinese women, and Asians of other countries (something to do with ice-skating being seen as an acceptable past time). Have a look at the video, and you’ll see what I mean.

Booking a session

The website tells you that you need to pre-book, so that you can guarantee a slot. It’s not something that was a problem for me, and I did it using the website. Over 12’s pay 11.50 per hour, plus skate hire. I noticed many of the more experienced skaters had come with their own skates.

What’s on the menu?

It’s burgers, wings, and other comfort food. The company has partnered up with Meat Liquor to serve burgers, wings and Mac & cheese. It must be said that this is miles away from the kind of cardboard junk food that we can all remember eating on visits to the leisure centre after a swim in the community pool.

Can I have a drink?

Yes, most definitely. The bar serves some impressive-sounding cocktails, such as ‘Fallen Angelita’ and ‘New Cross Negroni’, you will find milkshakes and craft beer as well. Everything has been done with the utmost care and attention to detail. You could quite happily come here just for a drink, not using the ice-rink or bowling alleys.

Final Verdict

Queens Skate is a fantastic venue. The design, particularly the neon-lit ice-rink, is something I haven’t seen anywhere else. Staff are trained to help nervous skaters, you can book lessons and there are DJs playing some nights. I can’t think of a better activity to do in London during the holidays, so take my advice and book a session.

Japan, Travel, Uncategorized

Rob in Japan’s Guide to Kumamoto

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On the Southern island of Kyushu,Kumamoto is a city in Japan. It’s mostly rural and there are many beautiful sights to visit. Most people who have heard about the city know about the Kumamoto Bear, a mascot created to draw tourists to the region when the Shinkansen opened in 2010.

‘Kumamon’ bear, the mascot for the Island of Kyushu.

This loveable character has been seen countless times, thanks to free licensing rights that mean the image can be used as long as it promotes the area, and in fact the bear is the most popular mascot in Japan.

Some souvenirs from Kumamoto Prefecture.

You can buy all kinds of snacks for souvenirs in the shops. As it is for other cities, everything is impressively packaged and the service is first class, as you would expect.

Mount Kinbo

The mountain in Kumamoto is an extinct caldera volcano; it still smokes but does not erupt. It’s perfect for a day of sightseeing!

Kumamoto Castle

Considered to be one of three most important castles in Japan. In truth, it looks the same as any castle you will find all over Japan.

Food

Kumamoto is famous for ramen. It’s not as greasy as Hokkaido ramen, and includes sliced garlic and sesame oil.

Kumamoto Ramen

Getting there

Fly to Fukuoka, the largest city in the region, and travel by bus or train to Kumamoto.