Money saving travel tips!

Going Solo

Flights

There are so many different ways to save a few bob when planning a trip or when there. Starting with flights and the very basics, Skyscanner mate. Use it on Incognito mode so the airlines can’t see which flights are being repeatedly looked up and then jack up the prices. It’s good to have some flexibility here, especially if there’s somewhere you want to go but don’t mind when you go. You can also set up price alerts for flights around the same dates, a few dates either side. For example if you wanted to go 5th-10th, check for 4th-9th, 3rd-8th etc. This way you can get the same amount of time there but you could have significantly cheaper flights. If like me you’re a Monday-Friday person I’ve found Saturday-Monday flights cheaper than Friday-Sunday, so worth checking.

If you’re super flexible about where you go I strongly recommend following

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Henry, and the little people of Salt.

Justice for the Salt People

Nero Saint presents...

Shame filled Henry where he sat across from the two detectives. Even though what it should have been was guilt. The cops had put the black box through the revealer, only to discover that it was an apartment console. Even though he was at the station only as a witness to a crime against him, he had to answer for why he, as a travelling salesman, had such a console in his luggage. A console that should have been safe and secure at the University for Complex Beings.

“Who are these people, and why are they travelling in your suitcase? Be aware that you are entitled to an advocate, as we might be charging you with a violation of the rights of Complex Beings. A crime punishable by a lifetime imprisonment, as well as regular sessions of cruel and unusual punishment as defined by the legal mandates of 2083 in…

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I have no tears

Emotion is strong here.

Realmofgold

I don’t want to care.
I don’t want my tears.
Not yours either.
I don’t want the strength of it.

For I see where it leads,
That slow bloom of anger.
Of hate misunderstood.

Your empathy comes with fists.
To go with your black heart.
Crafted by one sided views.
Like most fashions that touch us.

While I mourn that you see it so,
I mourn because I see it too.
My world is changing.
With you, shaping it.

I can do nothing.
So I shed no tear.
Not for you. Not for him.
For helplessness maybe.
Not for me.

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Tag Rugby Match

So these are the photos during the last tag session for Spring League..

Docklands Summer Festival and Japanese Lesson

Impulse purchase. Everyone is guilty about it. Consumerism has taken over our life that it’s hard to imagine life without it. Everywhere we turn, it has left its mark there. On the webpage, in the magazine and even the email, the only way to conquer it is to actually use it. That’s why Ben and I went to Thunder Road Cafe on Saturday for lunch, to use the voucher she bought months before. Paid €28 for a €60 value meal, do we feel bad about it? Not quite, the meal was delicious. We had the sweet chilli battered prawn, garlic bread with cheese, prawn fajita and vegetable burger. We were so stuffed, we decided not to get the dessert (I still have vouchers for froyo). Didn’t even use up the full €60 value for the meal.

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Afterward, Ben headed to watch Godzilla in cineworld while I head towards Grand Canal Dock for Docklands Summer Festival. The weather was warm and sunny, it feels wasteful to spend the day indoor. Sitting next to the dock and hanging your feet at the edge while watching wakeboard surfers performs, it hard not to notice that summer has finally arrive in Ireland. The charity duck race didn’t quite live up to my imagination, but it’ll do.

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I recall bumping into Benny Lewis, a globe-trotter who started up Fluent In 3 Months website, on Thursday. What a luck as I only went into Easons that day to browse for more travel books. His website encourages people, not only to learn foreign languages but also to open their life for new cultures and friendship from around the world. That is exactly what I’m passionate about and so I signed up for a language exchange program Italki. So far I’ve had 30-min Japanese trial lessons from 2 teachers; Tomoko sensei and Rinko sensei. Previously I had believed I’ve conquered the basic pronunciation of the Nihon go I can use to converse with Japanese locals. I was wrong. As soon as we started the Skype lesson, I went stumped. I couldn’t make my message across but they were so kind and helpful to assist me starting up again. If I had more time before leaving on Saturday, I would schedule another session with them and make it into a full hour. Wish me luck!

The Black Sheep

A celebration: The Arcade 4th Anniversary and Tayo’s Birthday

Last Friday, I attended an event organised by The Arcade to celebrate the magazine’s 4th anniversary. The Arcade is an online magazine dedicated to all aspect of geek lifestyles; gaming, videos, music, movies and costume playing. The attendees, consists of the writers, its supporters and loyal fans started to fill the space after 9pm. To be honest, most of the gang would take any reason to meet up and have a night out together. This time, we decided to hold it at the basement of The Black Sheep at Capel Street. This pub was known for holding frequent boardgame events, along with its selection of craft beers, had been a recording site of a Dublin-based podcast, The Irish Pubcast.

The Arcade Anniversary

Typical party treats were delivered, finger food, cake, boardgames and card games such as Munchkin, Love Letter, Cards Against Humanity was each distributed to each table. We were also introduced to a new game, Mr Jack. As always, CAH was the biggest hit that night. I’m starting to get the hang on Mr Jack game strategy, it’s rely on your wits to mislead your opponent without being caught at. I’m considering to purchase it, if only I have someone to constantly play a boardgame with me.

The day after, I went rafting along Liffey River with my DAS buddies. That needs its own post so I will talk about it later. In the evening, I went to Banyi to celebrate Tayo’s 27th birthday with Nani and Ben. Aaaaah, 27. I remember that year. I’ve only been to this restaurant once before. We all love Japanese food, we haven’t found a single Japanese restaurant that we didn’t love. Even more special this restaurant just reach its first year milestone. They gave us 20% discount on the bill (had I known, I would’ve ordered more sushi) and even kind enough to give Tayo a free dessert.

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After the meal, we went to a 7D cinema for a quick virtual simulator. Nani needed a little convincing since she can get sick easily but in the end, she faced her fear. We chose Horror Park experience, which is filled with creepy doll ghost, neck-cracking ghost and loud shrieking ghost. After it was over, the staff gave us a second ride for free, that was so nice of him. He even chose the movie for us, Paradise Island that was a smoother ride compared to the one we had before. I just wish there were bubbles like the first movie I went to weeks earlier. We had a great time that weekend, and it wasn’t even Sunday yet. That’s for relaxing!

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Dublin Bay Cruises

Earlier today, I was invited by Anastacia to join Tayo and herself on Dublin Bay Cruises from Dublin city centre to Howth. I’ve went for another cruise with this company before, from Dun Laoghaire to city centre. It seems a great opportunity to visit Howth again. We departed at 11am from Sir John Rogersons’s Quay.

Dublin Bay CruisesThe weather was warm although it’s rather cloudy then, I was contemplating whether to bring a jacket with me or not. It was a right decision to bring one, as it became very windy and cold when we’re out in the open sea. The girls definitely enjoyed themselves, especially Anastacia. Tayo still has a fear to go the end of the boat, kept holding on the rail for fear of falling into the water. Half way through the cruise, I got a little seasick and decided to stay in the cabin while watching a documentary about whales and deep sea life.

Happy girls on the cruiseHappy AnastaciaAfter an hour and half, we finally arrived in Howth, just in time for lunch. We went to a tapas restaurant, Octopussy, mainly because of its name and it also serves non-seafood items (Anastacia doesn’t like seafood). Later, I discovered it was ranked 3rd in Top 10 Great Places to Eat Outdoors by Lovin Dublin. Only 9 more to find and dine. Summer, please come soon!Octopussy's Seafood TapasOctopussy's menuAnastacia ordered chicken wings, Tayo had a platter and I got myself a seafood chowder. Everything was remarkably delicious, although the patata brava didn’t quite live up the expectation. I’m quite surprise how much I enjoyed the lightly battered anchovy. I’m glad we went in early to the restaurant since it got packed very quickly afterward. 3 groups were put in a 20-min queue to get seated in. We decided not to linger around after we finished the food due to this.Delicious lunchSeafood chowderAfterward we walked around Howth Market. I love food market, the smell of freshly baked goods, beautiful decorated dessert. I don’t quite know what to buy, quite relieved that I was stuffed from lunch. Otherwise I’d probably ended up buying dozens of the mini cupcakes.Mini cupcakes

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But I can’t totally control myself so I bought ONE mini Oreo cupcake, just to satisfy the craving. Plus a woven bracelet, it matches to the mori girl look I’m working on for Hakone trip. Afterward Anastacia and I shared a scoop of black forest ice cream. That should be enough for my diet (I hope).Gelatos

Candle tree

I call this tree next to the Olympic House “Candle Tree”. Doesn’t it look like there are dozens of candle attached to it? Ready to be ignited.

In the evening I met Anna from Grumpy Bear Creation to discuss a Harajuku hairpiece commission. I ended up buying beautiful ponytails hairpiece made of foams and cyberlox. More to come soon but here’s the preview..Cyberlox ponytails