“Fantasy worlds are defined by limits: much is unknown in these worlds, and the unknown either resists being known, or it is left in peace.” A longread on losing oneself in the geography of fantasy worlds, from Middle Earth to Westeros.

“In the end, the basic ingredients of existence never falter, whether you’re flying business or red-eye economy, or staying home.” Erin at outerNotes reflects on the lifestyle of a worldly jet-setter and wonders whether she’s “made it.”

“It’s been a poignant, thought-provoking journey, punctuated by two monuments: one to a way of life; one to life extinguished; and both inextricably bound to the mountain.” In this longread, George Kitching guides us over the Coniston mountains in the English Lake District, diving into the history and culture of the area.

“Vietnamese food must always have balance. There is bitterness, there is sourness, there is the pain from heat, but there is also sweet. This is the goal of Vietnamese food: to have all the emotions of life in one bite.” Antonio Perez describes his culinary adventures in Vietnam with vivid, sensory details.

“I’ve discovered that a city, while you’re vacationing there, behaves similar to a person on a really good first date.” Los Angeles writer Ze Luiz at StripSearchLA describes his first visit to Seattle, Washington.