amberdreams | Network

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wat-sirindhorn-phu-phrao

Bright Buddha images on the outer walls glow at night

Many temples in Thailand are in their fullest glory with the help of the fierce Thai sun — golden spires seemingly glowing in the afternoon sun, or the twinkle of a sunset casting a temple in cotton candy hues. However, there's one temple in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province where the real showstopper happens once the sun has set.

What distinguishes Wat Sirindhorn from other temples is the amazing show of glowing art that comes alive once the night arrives. Surrounding all sides of the main temple hall are countless flourishing glow-in-the-dark designs. Many of the motifs reference the sacred Bodhi tree in Buddhism. In other places, swirls arc and lead visitors on winding paths around the grounds of the temple. The outer walls of the temple are also adorned with luminescent Buddha figures.

Inside the prayer hall, an imposing gilded Buddha statue provides a visually luminous crescendo as it is backlit by an illuminated tree design. The entire display mirrors off the reflective tile flooring, inviting you to take a moment to take in the glowing scenes inside and out.

Wat Sirindhorn Wararam Phu Phrao, named after beloved Thai princess Sirindhorn (herself an avid traveler and photographer) spreads across a green hilltop in a natural setting. The "phu" in the name tells you this temple is on a hilltop. The waters of lake Sirindhorn lap against one side of the hill, while the Laotian border is tucked a mere half mile away on the other side.

Leave the sunscreen at your hotel and time your visit for sunset. This will allow you to watch the last rays of the day set the nearby lake ablaze in colors and then, once the sky is dark, the real show at the temple silently begins. And if you've spent any time in Southeast Asia, you'll appreciate the chance to go temple hopping after dark. The temple is some distance from the nearest town, but like most popular temples in Thailand, there will usually be a tuk-tuk driver waiting for farangs (foreigners) to shuttle back to town. If you come with your own wheels, there is parking available directly at the temple.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wat-sirindhorn-phu-phrao

yhlee

Terminated my SFWA membership as of today (modulo administrative steps), which I wrote and requested. My contact was friendly and efficient.

I requested this for multiple reasons, of which the recent Nebula-and-AI rules change handling fiasco was only the latest. I'm done.

To sf/f writer-folk, good luck out there.

I'm running an infection and I have work to do; comments disabled.

atlas_obscura_places_feed

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jo-jo-style-bar-dio

The Jojo manga franchise is infamous for it's strangely dressed characters and wacky plotlines that somehow are well written. It has fans all over the world, but only one of them opened a bar themed around the franchise and crested dozens of unique drinks around the characters and their 'stands'.

The bar itself is a small hole-in-the-wall type establishment, just large enough to seat about 10 people. It is covered from head to toe with prints and miniatures of the Jojo franchise, as well as original drawings and hand made replicas of the faces of various stands. Behind the bar the show is constantly playing, and the owner has watched it so often that he talks primarily in Jojo quotes (in Japanese). For those who want to read instead of watch, there is a library with all the Jojo books in one corner.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the bar is his long menu, which has about 50 drinks for each of the five Jojo seasons, each containing several unique cocktails named after the characters, their stands, and the moves of the stands.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jo-jo-style-bar-dio

petra

Drabbles and limericks for people who requested them:
Chrestomanci
due South + Murderbot
due South + Venom
Interview with the Vampire (TV)
KPop Demon Hunters
Pride and Prejudice
Singin' in the Rain
Slough House
Star Wars

Prompt me if you would you like something in one or more of my fandoms. I may not get to you today, but we can have Even More Joy Day tomorrow!

Current Mood: joyful
Current Music: Hearts unfold like flowers before thee

atlas_obscura_places_feed

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/japanese-bonsai-garden-in-ferch

Started by a passionate bonsai enthusiast in the mid-1990s, the garden combines landscape design, art, and quiet reflection. Visitors follow winding paths lined with glowing azaleas, cherry blossoms, and fiery maples. Bonsai trees, some over 180 years old, are displayed among stone arrangements, mossy hills, and a pond filled with colorful koi. Stepping stones and small bridges lead to a wooden pavilion that frames the miniature landscape like a painting.

The tea house, overlooking the Zen garden, offers a peaceful stop for visitors to enjoy Japanese teas and sweet treats like Dora Yaki. A small shop nearby sells tea, traditional snacks, pottery, and bonsai supplies, allowing guests to take a piece of the garden home.

At the end of October, the garden hosts a Lantern Festival, when dozens of bamboo and stone lanterns illuminate the paths and trees in a soft glow. Visitors should check the garden’s website for current dates and event details.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/japanese-bonsai-garden-in-ferch

kingstoken posting in

fandomtrees

( You're about to view content that a community administrator has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

duckprintspress

Next weekend, January 16th to 19th, Arisia 2026 is taking place in Boston! Arisia is a convention for fans of science fiction and fantasy, in all forms of media, held at the Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge. It includes panels, vending, table-top gaming, meet-ups, and other fun things to do. Duck Prints Press is part of the Creators Corner, along with about 10 others; there’s also a Dealer’s Room AND an Artist Show!

If you’re in the Boston area, I hope we’ll see you there!

prettygoodword

haka (HAH-kah) - n., a Maori group dance with rhythmic chanting, vigorous facial and arm movements, and foot stamping.

Traditionally a war dance, now performed as to show respect during ceremonial greetings and funerals, but better known internationally as a challenge to opposing teams at sports events -- the New Zealand rugby union team aka the All Blacks is associated with this, as they've been performing a haka before matches since an 1888 tour of the United Kingdom [Sidebar: of note, most of that team were in fact Maori], but other New Zealand national teams also do it. From Maori, of course, though there are dance-related cognates in other Polynesian languages such as Hawaiian haʻa, dance, and Tongan haka, hand action made while singing.

---L.

polyamships_mod posting in

fandomcalendar

( You're about to view content that a community administrator has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

candyheartsex

There are 7 unmatchables! If your username starts with A, B, O, P, or T, please check your email to see if I've contacted you about adding offers.

Unmatchables have 24 hours to respond, and then hopefully I'll be able to send out assignments soon after that!

mumblemumble

(2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024)

2025 was the year I completely lost my writing mojo, and also the year of Zhang Kangle. For me, personally.

Just for the sake of completeness, I'm including things that were revealed in January, even though I already gathered them up in a separate post.

( All the fanworks, and a lot of navel-gazing. )

spikedluv

I had a chiropractic appointment this morning. This would have been a no-shopping day, but I forgot one item crucial to tonight’s supper, so I stopped at Price Chopper and naturally bought a few other things. I also hit the post office (to mail a returned Christmas card because I screwed up the address *head desk*).

I did a load of laundry, hand-washed dishes, went for several walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter. Supper was shake ‘n bake pork chops, which you cannot have without shake ‘n bake. Who knew? o_O

I tried the Raspberry tea this morning, since I was home long enough to drink a cup. It reminds me of the Pomegranate tea. I read more in Amelia Peabody and watched some HGTV (Fixer to Fabulous and House Hunters International) and Secrets of the Zoo.

I’m separating this out because it’s so exciting: I added ~1,700 words to my

smallfandomfest fic!! It was a ~really good writing day. Few and far between these days.

Temps started out at 34.5(F). It was still raining and all the schools in the county were delayed 2 hours, so it’s a good thing I had already planned to leave later. The roads weren’t too bad when I finally did head out. Temps reached 36.7, which is barely two degrees warmer than it was this morning. This is one of the reasons winter sucks.

Mom Update:

Mom sounded good on the phone. She’d just had a call from my brother and Sister A was visiting, so that was nice. She said the hospice visit was filling out a lot of paperwork and a brief overview. Thank goodness the hospice rep did all the paperwork. This woman (hospice rep) does our area and she worked with a woman we knew who recently passed away, and her daughter told Sister S that she was very good, so that’s good to know.

candyheartsex

Signups have closed! Any unmatchables will be notified on 1/8, and assignments will go out by January 10, 11:59 PM EST at the latest.

You can look at requests via the request summary or the app, and there's also the letters post.

This could be a good time to add to the fandom/relationships promo post!

kitewithfish

Annual thoughts: Traditionally, I have used the first Wednesday of the year as a bit of a place to reflect on the reading I have been doing. I had had a few goals in the last few years – read 100 books a year, read more nonfiction, read more broadly – and I think those goals have been pretty good for my reading habits!

This year, I want to focus this year on reading more complex books, and so I’m lowering the “total number of books” goal to down from 100 to 80 books. I also hope this will help with the nonfiction reading and the vague goal of reading more older books. I read just a few nonfiction books this year, only 6, but I really think they were fantastic choices, and I’m going to try and lean into that more this year. I think there’s good context out in the world that I need to get into.

I also had a number of books suggested over the course of Arisia 2025 that I would like to actually sit down and read! They are here, if you are curious: https://kitewithfish.dreamwidth.org/479961.html

What I’ve Read
Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett – I have been slowly reading thru the Night Watch thread of Terry Pratchett, and this was very good. I know this was a re-read, but god knows how long ago it was. I liked this one, and the general message of (non) human decency and bonds among fellow watchmen was emotionally fulfilling while the book itself was very funny. Recommend!

I skipped the Wednesday Reading Meme posts for the last few weeks, so if you are interested in what I read that last two weeks, it’s in a round up post here! https://kitewithfish.dreamwidth.org/492482.html

What I’m Reading
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – The second Hunger Games book. About 30% in, and, well, recent evens make this feel like a good book to be reading about empires and power and violence and effective resistance not being something a sixteen year old girl can manage on her own. I think there’s a bit of a fashion of expressing annoyance at love triangles, but I think Katniss being torn between these particular two boys makes perfect sense. They are each decent and good people working in very different molds, and honestly, I can see how awful it is that Peeta’s earnest kindness is made into a snare against Katniss’s rebellion by the Capitol. This book is simply written but it never thinks the reader is stupid, and I respect the hell out that.

One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters – Book two of the Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries. Great so far – I do not know a lot about the civil wars of the 12th century, so I am likely missing some details but I generally trust the book to actually get me what I need to know. Ellis Peters, who is actually Edith Pargeter, has a deft had for women characters even if Cadfael is the lead, and I think that I will continue to enjoy these books for some time!

What I’ll Read Next
Playing it by ear.

adafrog

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

ranalore

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has marked as possibly inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. )

Current Mood: productive
Current Location: the jianghu (don't i wish)

shadaras

The thing about Martha Wells' Queen Demon is that I really adored Witch King and then was mad about the fact that it wasn't a stand-alone book because I didn't feel a need for more in that universe.

Queen Demon is a perfectly serviceable book. I generally like Martha Wells' writing and her casts of characters. However. One of the things that I did not mind in Witch King but do mind in Queen Demon is the dual timelines. I suppose they weren't precisely directly connected in Witch King either, but there it had the effect of explaining who Kai was and providing all the backstory to the world. In Queen Demon, it's like...

I can see echoes but it's not direct. It ended up feeling like I was intercutting between two novellas with a shared world/cast, rather than one book that built its thematic/narrative push along a split timeline.

And yeah that probably wasn't helped by how I read it (in three sittings, more or less, each a couple weeks apart), but...

The main feeling I had about this novel was that every chapter seemed designed to end on a cliffhanger, which is perfectly reasonable design/structure for a novel, but also way more annoying when you know that you're not going to be immediately following up on that bit of time when you begin the next chapter.

This then leads into my biggest "I didn't like this" about the book, which is that it ends in much the same way as any of its chapters end, just on a bigger scale. Which, like, yeah, that's normal for a book in a series, I guess? But it's not how I'm used to Martha Wells books in series ending! She is usually pretty good about wrapping things up instead of ending on "here is a dramatic change in status quo that we are not even providing characters time to have an emotion about before cutting from".

...which then leads to the biggest question I have about bk3, which is:

So if the naming schema so far has been "magic-user + royalty title", does that mean the next book will be named for the Immortal Blessed or the Hierarchs?

( spoiler-tastic specific ??? about the ending )

(yes I will read bk3 when it comes out but I still think that I liked Witch King as a standalone more than Witch King as a series.)

kingstoken

Snowflake Challenge: A warmly light quaint street of shops at night with heavy snow falling.

Challenge #4: Rec The Contents Of Your Last Page

Any website that you like, be it fanfiction, art, social media, or something a bit more eccentric!

I wasn't sure I understood this challenge at first, but it looks like people are just sharing cool things they've come across on the internet, so here is a short list of cool things I've come across lately in no particular order:

- Star Wars art from a zine on Fanlore of Han, Leia, Luke and Chewbacca
- Art of Holmes and Watson in their jammies
- It was Sherlock Holmes' birthday yesterday, so please enjoy this vid highlighting all the different actors who have played Holmes throughout the years
- I recently listened to this podcast Curse of: America's Next Top Model, it goes into the show's history and the problematic nature of the show, also did you know the models never even got paid for their time on the show?!
- A poster for the 50th anniversary re-release of Goncharov, the greatest film that never existed
- Angel Aziraphale and Angel Crowley art

Anyways, I could keep going, but I don't want it to be too long. I hope you found something you enjoy!

sixbeforelunch

Snowflake Challenge: A mug of coffee or hot chocolate with a snowflake shaped gingerbread cookie perched on the rim sits nestled amidst a softly bunched blanket. A few dried orange slices sit next to it.

Challenge #3: Write a love letter to fandom.

John Green says of going to home games for AFC Wimbledon, "I'm with 8,000 people whose love is oriented in the same direction as mine." That, to me, is fandom. It's a group of people who have oriented their love in a similar direction, whether that's toward a show or an actor or a band or a character or a hobby or something else entirely. (Honestly, love oriented in the same direction might be foundational to almost all human-built institutions, and the problem with some of them is that the object of their love doesn't inspire pro-social behavior, but that's outside the scope of this post.) It doesn't matter what the object of the love is so much as the way that all that love aimed at a similar place amplifies itself, like vector multiplication.

The funny thing is, the way I do fandom these days, It's almost less about the object of the fandom and more about the idea of fandom, the love and the passion it inspires. Which is not to say that I'm not in some fandoms. I'm very active in Star Trek fandom, and love hanging out with people who love it with me. It's always fun to find people who share some of my other current interests like Sherlock Holmes, Murder She Wrote, Superman, and Jane Austen, or to reminisce happily with people who remember the loves that I'm less active in but still remember fondly like X-Files and Stargate.

But there are definitely people in fandom spaces with whom I share no fandoms, and I still enjoy their company, because they're doing the fandom thing too. That is, they're passionate about something, and so passionate that they want to talk about the thing, and make more of the thing, and put their joy and passion into the world so that other people can share it. Elsewhere on this year's snowflake, someone mentioned how much they love seeing someone be passionate about something, even if they don't share that passion. I like that. It is a joy to see humans be happy and excited about things they love, and to be unabashedly passionate about them.

Let people enjoy things has become a meme, almost a cliche, but that's because it so often needs to be said. Fandom at its best is a safe place where people are allowed to enjoy things without mockery or disdain, and in a world where that is all too often not the case, that's a very valuable thing.

mergatrude

I had time off over the xmas-new year close down and my goal was to do as little as possible. I made no lists or plans (aside from xmas lunch with the in-laws) and just let things happen. I managed to complete the singles and the first round of plying for my cable sock yarn project. I started and undid a pair of mittens for a work colleague three times (think I'm going to have to try something completely different), and finished a little knitting project.

Normally I don't like knitting things that involve sewing, but last year I started an Inside Cat bookmark with some random handspun yarn in an ugly colour that was the result of over-blending. It looks cursed, but I'm impressed with myself for knitting tiny ears, all the i-cord limbs that had to be attached, and a face? (Yeah, I have school-related sewing trauma.)

( cursed cat thing )

We sold our on-site van a couple of months ago, so have nowhere to easily BEACH. But the coast is only a couple of hours drive away so on the 2nd I drove myself down there (no one else wanted to come and I was sick of them all) and did the BEACH thing myself (sorry, the all-caps is a family in-joke). I recharged the car, had haloumi and peach salad in a cafe at Mosquito Bay and then went for a swim at Lilli Pilli Beach. So relaxing, not having to cater for anyone else. The water was gorgeous despite all the seaweed, and I had a nap on the sand before driving home. Note to self: BEACH more often!

( beautiful day at tiny Lilli Pilli Beach )

Now I'm back at work, there's a heatwave in the southeast (today is going to be 39C/102F, as is tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow) but the aircon works here and at home. I hope everyone's year started well. :)

Profile

amberdreams

December 2025

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

Page Summary

atlas_obscura_places_feed - Wat Sirindhorn Phu Phrao in Tambon Chong Mek, Thailand
yhlee - brief note
atlas_obscura_places_feed - Jo-Jo-style Bar Dio in Nakano City, Japan
petra - Happy More Joy Day! Drabbles & Limericks posted
atlas_obscura_places_feed - Japanese Bonsai Garden in Schwielowsee, Germany
kingstoken in fandomtrees - Mod Post: Needy Trees Update and Reveals Delayed
duckprintspress - Next Weekend: Arisia!
prettygoodword - haka
polyamships_mod in fandomcalendar - [MULTIFANDOM] PolyamShippingDay - January 2026
candyheartsex - Unmatchables
mumblemumble - 2025 Fanwork Round-Up
spikedluv - The Day in Spikedluv (Wednesday, Jan 7)
candyheartsex - Signups Closed!
kitewithfish - (no subject)
adafrog - Wednesday
ranalore - i'll give you three guesses what the animal's going to be, and the first two don't count
shadaras - (no subject)
kingstoken - Snowflake Challenge Day #4
sixbeforelunch - snowflake day 3: a love letter to fandom
mergatrude - work for idle hands

Style Credit

Base style: Crossroads by branchandroot
Theme: Altair by dancing_serpent

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags

Page generated Jan. 8th, 2026 07:11 pm

Blood will Flow

when flesh and steel are one

Network

Wat Sirindhorn Phu Phrao in Tambon Chong Mek, Thailand

brief note

Jo-Jo-style Bar Dio in Nakano City, Japan

Happy More Joy Day! Drabbles & Limericks posted

Japanese Bonsai Garden in Schwielowsee, Germany

Mod Post: Needy Trees Update and Reveals Delayed

Next Weekend: Arisia!

If you’re in the Boston area, I hope we’ll see you there!

haka

[MULTIFANDOM] PolyamShippingDay - January 2026

Unmatchables

2025 Fanwork Round-Up

The Day in Spikedluv (Wednesday, Jan 7)

Signups Closed!

(no subject)

Wednesday

i'll give you three guesses what the animal's going to be, and the first two don't count

(no subject)

Snowflake Challenge Day #4

snowflake day 3: a love letter to fandom

work for idle hands

Profile

December 2025

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags