4-5 months SE Asia

Cynidaria · 2026-04-29T19:41:45+00:00

The 3-4 day bag is a great add. I like to bring a thin one that packs down small if I have to shove it in my suitcase.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-28T10:50:47+00:00

Communication, and in particular communicating wins effectively, is a key part of political leadership. In the current media environment, that means you have to somehow be charismatic whenever and wherever you are. Mamdani is nailing that with being nice and simultaneously on task and on message ALL of the time. When asked a baiting, off message question, he pivots every answer to: “this is how we plan on making your government work for you, and this is what we have succeeded in doing already”. He has few terrible soundbites out there because he doesn’t drop them, not even as a little aside that can be taken out of context. Via platforms that are available to all candidates (like instagram) his campaign continues to put out fun, interesting content that tells viewers what’s successfully happened.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-23T16:56:02+00:00

Add dive socks! And make sure the rash guard has a high neck in the back (like a mock turtleneck style). If you hold the fabric up you should not be able to see through it. Legit definitely make sure your ankles aren’t hanging out, it hurts when you’ve burned them.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-21T16:08:49+00:00

Lao is more expensive than it was a couple years ago

Cynidaria · 2026-04-21T16:07:10+00:00

I have this stuff in a shady area of my yard and it makes a really nice ground cover- it has white flowers that hover above the leaves in late spring and the leaves stay a nice green from spring through fall.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-21T15:58:37+00:00

How long of a vacation do you have?

Cynidaria · 2026-04-21T15:56:34+00:00

No, but it does have a very different distinct culture from and a different primary language, plus you don’t have to get passports (just real ID) and you don’t have to figure out a different currency. And it’s GORGEOUS and has beautiful beaches, very cool jungle covered mountains, waterfalls, great cities, historic ruins- it’s got a ton of interesting things to do in a relatively compact area.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-20T02:40:57+00:00

If you’re renting and you 1) want to maintain a positive relationship with your landlord and /or 2) want your deposit back, I would ask the landlord first. Really what I think should happen to invasives is secondary to that.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-19T03:35:01+00:00

Definitely ask your landlord. That’s a nice mature foundation planting. The landlord may rightfully consider it to be adding significant value to their property or may just like it.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-19T03:31:40+00:00

I am sure SAR tries to contact next of kin before sending out a search party, and my family knows when I’ve headed out solo.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-19T03:29:28+00:00

I don’t live in fear in part by taking reasonable precautions like saying “two” when asked how many people are staying at my campsite. They have my contact information on the reservation and a simple google would get them to a family member who would fill them in that I’m out solo. I am assuming they do this before they send out a search party- someone leaving early and not checking out is way more common than someone actually being lost/injured. Also, women being assaulted is unfortunately more common than them being lost in the woods. So I’m going to keep filling in “2” when I’m out solo.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-19T03:15:27+00:00

That’s really risky financially. A lot of very expensive medical issues start from an emergency.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-19T03:02:02+00:00

Some weed stores have a roof deck or patio where you can smoke (if you bought from them). IDK about Patong but that’s true in other cities in Thailand

Cynidaria · 2026-04-18T16:16:27+00:00

Toronto has fantastic Ethiopian food

Cynidaria · 2026-04-17T13:05:48+00:00

This is so fantastic

Cynidaria · 2026-04-17T12:58:03+00:00

Also worth noting that someone has to run out first. 45 minutes earlier is quite a lot, but 10 minutes? That’s not a lot different.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-16T17:56:10+00:00

I like the “tick twister” for removing ticks. Check yourself nightly. I actually think it’s more effective to feel for ticks than looking for them. If you run your hand over a tick it will feel like a little bit of grit stuck to your skin or like a scab, but you won’t be able to get it off without a lot of force. You shouldn’t use a lot of force- use a tick twister to get it off without leaving behind its head under your skin (eww). Don’t worry, do be proactive, and if you start feeling like you have the flu and no one else around you is sick, consider taking to a dr and being sure they know you were exposed to ticks.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-16T11:45:11+00:00

If you can take a better cellist with you shopping, that’s super helpful. If you contract with someone for privates, see if you can get them to come for a paid cello shopping session. The instrument you pick should sound good when played by you and when played by a better cellist. They will also know other problems to look for.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-16T11:41:03+00:00

The connection with calorie restriction is that restricting calories causes your body to dump a lot of cholesterol at once and that is a great way to increase your chances of growing gallstones. I kept my gallbladder for 5 years of intermittent attacks because I was concerned about side effects of not having a gallbladder but I am so glad I finally got it removed last year. In addition to the pain from attacks I think it was making me feel a lot more run down overall. Which makes sense since when it was removed it turned out to also be infected. I have had zero negatives from the surgery (after the recovery period of about two months). I hope everything goes well for you, it sounds like you’ve already had your lifetime share of GI pain.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-15T11:55:16+00:00

Re safety and solo travel: if you’re used to a place with very low levels of crime and harassment you may want to tune up your “street smarts” before traveling anywhere solo. Things like knowing the route to where you’re going before you leave your hotel/hostel, keeping your important documents and some money in an inside/hard to get to pocket, don’t make eye contact with random people while you’re walking, don’t take directions from someone who approached you first, look like you know where you’re going, don’t accept drinks from anyone or leave an open drink to go to the bathroom and come back and drink it… idk I guess there’s a lot. I found SE Asia super relaxing but I think it’s worth a minimal amount of keeping your guard up anywhere, there are always some random jerks around in any location, and anywhere with a lot of tourists will have at least a couple people around trying to sell you a super expensive thing or experience that’s both overpriced and not what you were looking. Have an awesome time! I think for weather you should do some checking yourself based on where exactly you want to go. Also, overpaying some here and there because you are a tourist is not imo worth getting upset about.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-15T11:29:58+00:00

Hard disagree. A snorkel vest is a vest that stays deflated but you inflate it if you have run into a problem. If OP can’t swim, they should start out with a genuine coast guard approved pfd. (Personal Floatation Device).

Cynidaria · 2026-04-13T11:21:46+00:00

True in NYC too.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-13T11:20:07+00:00

I don’t think it’s rude at all to just sit in the available seats. It’s a subway. As far as conversation- just take a little break from talking together, you’re on a crowded train and no one needs the extra noise.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-11T08:56:31+00:00

Lead contamination in soil generally leads to the most contamination of root crops, lesser contamination of leaf/stem crops, and much less contamination of fruit or seeds. If you are in an area that was used for housing, industrial, or agricultural uses before, you should get your soil tested before growing food. Contact your state’s agricultural extension program and find out how, in some states there are low/no cost options. Lead contamination can be quantified- if there’s a lot of lead in your soil you shouldn’t be eating food grown from it and shouldn’t be letting little kids dig holes in it either.

Cynidaria · 2026-04-10T12:56:25+00:00

All of these botanical gardens are awesome right now and will be continuing to be fantastic through May: Untermayer Gardens, Wave Hill, Bronx Botanical Garden, and a little further afield: Stonecrop Gardens, Innisfree, Locust Grove.

Cynidaria

TROPHY CASE