In case anyone hasn’t watched the show yet this is your warning for spoilers keep that in mind.
So I’ve been thinking A LOT about alastor and who the biggest candidate is to own his soul, so I’m going to run through my thoughts in detail of who I think will be revealed to own alastors soul in future seasons. Keep in mind this is purely a in show analysis no outside influences just a break down of the show itself.
First things first let’s break down who we know does not own his soul. Lucifer, Camilla, Zestial , Any of the Vs, Or any overlord we see in the meeting room.
Some of these are easy eliminations clearly the Vs don’t because of the rival between Vox and alastor, and neither Valentino or Velvette based on not only association with Vox but they don’t know where he’s been for the past 7 years, and this is true for not only Camilla and Zestial but all the over lords in the meeting and was a point Zestial brought up to alastor on where he’s been.
As for Lucifer he doesn’t even know who alastor is when they first meet and we know Lucifer isn’t out of the question to own souls because not only does he mention a “sacrificial lamb” implying he makes deals but he owns his own soul and possibly others based on my next topic, eyes.
It’s been an important observation that characters who have their soul, own a soul or sold their soul have different colors on their eyes so let’s go through them to recap.
Bright yellow tinted eyes = you own your soul Red eyes = you own someone else’s soul Black eyes = you sold your soul
We can piece these together by looking at our main cast. The overlords who deal in souls all have red eyes the only exception is Zestial but with his color pattern and esthetic it makes sense to not mess with this look even Vox shows his eye flickering red at times.
Angel is an interesting case because of his deal with Val he only owns him in the studio so his eyes are half black and half yellow show casing his half deal for his soul and other characters like husk who fully lost their soul have black eyes all together.
Niffty is a very interesting character when it comes to this because her eyes are red like she owns souls but also have a yellow tint in the middle so it’s questionable weather or not she actually sold her soul at all to alastor which through their interactions doesn’t scream a forced labor but a consensual relationship, but moving on.
Okay so we have knocked out everyone who would even have a small chance to be the winner so who’s left? Well there’s 2 characters I see as a possibility to own his soul, first if obviously Lilith, she’s is already a mysterious character that we don’t know that much about but let’s break down what we do know.
Lilith AKA the first woman before Eve did not want to be controlled by Adam and refused to submit, this led her into the arms of Lucifer who fell in love with her and through the down fall of Eden got cast down to hell along with Lucifer.
Even though Lucifer fell into heavy depression, Lilith started to thrive and became very powerful, powerful enough so the angels start the exterminations every year to keep hells numbers down. So what happened to her? Well we still have more to learn about her character and a lot of information is intentionally being kept secret but we can speculate that alastor 7 year absence was with Lilith however we learn Lilith has been living in a beach in heaven for X amount of time and in Adam’s defeat lute calls her to action.
But hold on we know Adam and lute don’t know alastor either and if alastor met with Lilith it would have to mean that it was before her going to heaven in the first place but alastor has still been gone for 7 years but not before he trapped a bunch of souls of overlords in the radio to scream for eternity. So what’s going on? Well I believe alastor did make a deal with Lilith however she doesn’t own he is soul because there’s another character who not only has the red eyes as if they own someone’s soul but alastor himself has taken a particular interest in. CHARLIE.
When Charlie gets mad we see her iconic demon horns form but her eyes also turn red and she still owns her own soul based on her eyes normally portraying as yellow same as Lucifer. But really think about it why would alastor a force so dangerous and feared across hell that all the overlords fear him want to help others get redeemed? Boredom? I don’t think so alastor doesn’t even think it will work to begin with so if he’s bored why not go on another killing spree and show everyone again why he’s feared? Why join the hotel?
Alastor also has taken a very particular interest in Charlie herself interrupting Lucifer’s song to specifically call out how much of a “father” he’s been to her and how much he “cares for her”.
But the most striking evidence is the deal that Charlie makes with alastor her eyes once again turn red they shake hands but alastor doesn’t or maybe can’t take her soul but can make a binding deal that she has to help him where she doesn’t harm anyone directly, but what do we see during this deal? Alastors smile gets revealed in stitches a forced smile. Even when alastor is having a mental breakdown he’s till smiling uncontruncontrollably.
And that’s another thing we see as a feature of own someone’s soul a binding chain of sorts alastor has a green chain around husks neck and Val has a red smoke symbolizing the drugs he’s addicted too on angel so Charlie shaking alastors hand reveals alastors true chains! But why?
Obviously Charlie wouldn’t do this to someone else and she doesn’t know alastor personally until after he comes to her door well I think for the bargain of the power alastor was given he made a deal with Lilith for power beyond any other overlord but instead of shaking hands with Lilith he shaking hands with baby Charlie making her the owner of his soul so alastor couldn’t harm her.
even alastor reminiscence over wanting to be set free and what he will do once he is I think that’s what Lilith was trying to stop and Charlie making a deal with alastor will result in him finally finding that loop whole to unclip his wings!
Thank you for listening to me ramble I really needed to get this off my chest

While we engage in nearly comprehensible absurdities, the planet gradually stalls, indifferent to the protests and dissatisfaction of the “useless cattle.” How will your carbon footprint and carbon wallet function in the world envisioned by the WEF?
Allow us to introduce Barbara Baarsma, the CEO of Rabo Carbon Bank—not to be confused with Rabo Bank. In a video interview, she promotes the concept of a “personal carbon wallet.” While it might appear trivial, her statements are quite alarming and warrant serious concern.

Indeed, it’s quite the topic. Let’s dissect it gradually and consider the likely implementation methods.
One might view this as merely an additional layer of taxation that will be embraced by globalists. However, we believe it’s more profound. When bankers begin to speak of rights, the impoverished, and the green economy, it’s evident they’re crafting a world tailored for the elite, with little regard for the rest.
In essence, it could mean a future where personal entertainment and travel are luxuries beyond reach. But rest assured, the elite will likely indulge on behalf of all.
Carbon Labels on Products.
This is nothing but totalitarianism. We forgot to mention that Rabobank and Baarsma both participate in the World Economic Forum.
When many people consider carbon emissions and carbon footprints, they often associate them solely with travel, fuel, gas, and electricity, viewing these as the primary sources of emissions. However, the reality is far more complex.
Allow us to introduce you to a company you might not be familiar with, called Doconomy.
Doconomy is a credit card endorsed by the World Economic Forum of Klaus Schwab. In May 2019, an article was published on the WEF website with the title: “This credit card has a carbon spending limit.”
The article says

Indeed, it reduces their expenses and further:

We are now approaching a deeper understanding of its functionality. It’s not limited to travel; it will encompass all aspects of life.
In February 2019, Mastercard published an article titled “Mastercard and Doconomy Launch the Future of Green Payments.” The article discusses:

It’s remarkable that they highlight the capability for users to monitor everything. This, they assure, will not be exploited for malicious intents, such as banks and governments tracking all activities. Certainly not. Additionally, Mastercard is a partner with the WEF.
In May 2019, the United Nations engaged in climate action by publishing an article titled “Innovative Climate Action – New Credit Card Limits Users’ Climate Impact.”
Patricia Espinosa, the UN Executive Secretary for Climate Change, was highly impressed with this concept and lauded it extensively. Indeed, Espinosa and the UN are partners with the WEF, which seems to indicate a recurring pattern.
Large banks also perceive this as a significant opportunity. In 2021, Barclays partnered with MasterCard and Doconomy. This collaboration is viewed by some as akin to surveillance and socialism. Additionally, it is well-known that Barclays is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
This doesn’t fully capture the scope of what the WEF, Mastercard, the UN, and similar global organizations are orchestrating. You’ve only been exposed to a fraction of the narrative.
Imagine this scenario: In Ireland, Marc Ó Cathasaigh, a Green Party member, visited Brew Dog pub in Dublin earlier this March. He presented a menu image where each item had a CO2 label, prompting the question: Will this influence your choice?
The menu displayed traditional options like chicken, beef, and lamb on one side, and “plant-based” alternatives, including Beyond Meat’s lab-processed options, on the other. Notably, Bill Gates has invested in Beyond Meat.
The disparity in Dublin’s exorbitant prices for these two product types is minimal, yet there is a significant difference in CO2 emissions.
It’s also worth noting that there’s a notion being seeded in the public consciousness regarding varying CO2 levels. Efforts are being made to nudge people towards plant-based foods and Beyond Meat products, clearly indicating an underlying agenda.
The criteria for measuring CO2 emissions are unclear as yet, but restaurants have begun implementing tests. I’ve perused all the comments on this subject; some view it as positive, others disagree. However, the issue is that none of the respondents seem to grasp the core issue.
What’s likely to unfold is this: your carbon footprint may dictate your dining choices at a restaurant. Depending on your remaining points for the month, you might be restricted to either ‘right food’ or ‘lab food.’
It does sound quite peculiar, doesn’t it? The number of points you have could decide whether you’re permitted to consume ‘proper food’ or ‘synthetic food.’
If you were a courageous child, you would be permitted only to consume lab-grown plant-based foods to avoid exceeding your carbon quota. Attempting to order beef with high CO2 levels would be prohibited.
The same principle applies to your weekly supermarket visits, where each item purchased would have a CO2 value assigned.
Yet, the situation becomes more absurd. In the past month, Eamonn Ryan, a WEF member and leader of the Green Party in Ireland, has proposed a reduction in Irish livestock numbers. Instead, we would import cattle from Brazil. This, we refer to as the “Ruminati” agenda (the work of the “reflective”).
Now, consider the carbon footprint of Brazilian beef imports on the menu. It would skyrocket. Can you perceive their objectives and the potential consequences?
It may seem excessively bleak, but it’s not entirely implausible. Consider the events of the past two and a half years, and you’ll see it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.
We’ve been shown predictions of how it could unfold. For instance, the Black Mirror episode “Nosedive,” which revolves around social credit points, offers a glimpse into such a future. Imagine substituting the social credit score with a carbon footprint to grasp the concept. In the future, digital identities and currencies, social credit points, and carbon footprints are expected to function together.
Doc Ono provides an illustration of this concept on their website, using clothing as an example. Imagine you’re in the market for a new pair of jeans.
On their website, they claim:

Picture yourself shopping with a “carbon calculator” and discovering you have only 10 points left. You can’t purchase jeans that cost 21.45 CO2 points; instead, you must choose jeans priced at 8.98 CO2 points. Ultimately, you cannot surpass your quota; if you do, your card will be disabled, and your digital payment will be rejected.
The “carbon calculator” we referred to is actually a real tool developed by Mastercard.
In a 2021 press release on their website, they report the following:

Guess who’s collaborating with them? Doconomy. It will be implemented as an app so you can check your carbon footprint, which will determine what you can buy and what you can’t.
It’s not merely the traditional “carbon calculator”; it’s the 2030 carbon calculator, aligned with the 2030 Agenda. If you examine the top left corner of the image closely, you’ll notice the progression from 2020 to 2030.
Eventually, it will evolve into an application encompassing the essentials of digital ID, digital currency, social credit score, and more. It’s akin to entering a fusion of Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” and George Orwell’s “1984.”
However, whether this will materialize is another matter entirely. This isn’t just the ramblings of a conspiracy theorist. I’ve attempted to present evidence of real-world developments. It remains your choice to believe it or not, and to decide if we will allow it to unfold.While we engage in nearly comprehensible absurdities, the planet gradually stalls, indifferent to the protests and dissatisfaction of the “useless cattle.” How will your carbon footprint and carbon wallet function in the world envisioned by the WEF?
Allow us to introduce Barbara Baarsma, the CEO of Rabo Carbon Bank—not to be confused with Rabo Bank. In a video interview, she promotes the concept of a “personal carbon wallet.” While it might appear trivial, her statements are quite alarming and warrant serious concern.

Indeed, it’s quite the topic. Let’s dissect it gradually and consider the likely implementation methods.
One might view this as merely an additional layer of taxation that will be embraced by globalists. However, we believe it’s more profound. When bankers begin to speak of rights, the impoverished, and the green economy, it’s evident they’re crafting a world tailored for the elite, with little regard for the rest.
In essence, it could mean a future where personal entertainment and travel are luxuries beyond reach. But rest assured, the elite will likely indulge on behalf of all.
https://www.soulask.com/countries-have-collaborated-to-develop-a-credit-card-that-tracks-your-carbon-footprint/

In case anyone hasn’t watched the show yet this is your warning for spoilers keep that in mind.
So I’ve been thinking A LOT about alastor and who the biggest candidate is to own his soul, so I’m going to run through my thoughts in detail of who I think will be revealed to own alastors soul in future seasons. Keep in mind this is purely a in show analysis no outside influences just a break down of the show itself.
First things first let’s break down who we know does not own his soul. Lucifer, Camilla, Zestial , Any of the Vs, Or any overlord we see in the meeting room.
Some of these are easy eliminations clearly the Vs don’t because of the rival between Vox and alastor, and neither Valentino or Velvette based on not only association with Vox but they don’t know where he’s been for the past 7 years, and this is true for not only Camilla and Zestial but all the over lords in the meeting and was a point Zestial brought up to alastor on where he’s been.
As for Lucifer he doesn’t even know who alastor is when they first meet and we know Lucifer isn’t out of the question to own souls because not only does he mention a “sacrificial lamb” implying he makes deals but he owns his own soul and possibly others based on my next topic, eyes.
It’s been an important observation that characters who have their soul, own a soul or sold their soul have different colors on their eyes so let’s go through them to recap.
Bright yellow tinted eyes = you own your soul Red eyes = you own someone else’s soul Black eyes = you sold your soul
We can piece these together by looking at our main cast. The overlords who deal in souls all have red eyes the only exception is Zestial but with his color pattern and esthetic it makes sense to not mess with this look even Vox shows his eye flickering red at times.
Angel is an interesting case because of his deal with Val he only owns him in the studio so his eyes are half black and half yellow show casing his half deal for his soul and other characters like husk who fully lost their soul have black eyes all together.
Niffty is a very interesting character when it comes to this because her eyes are red like she owns souls but also have a yellow tint in the middle so it’s questionable weather or not she actually sold her soul at all to alastor which through their interactions doesn’t scream a forced labor but a consensual relationship, but moving on.
Okay so we have knocked out everyone who would even have a small chance to be the winner so who’s left? Well there’s 2 characters I see as a possibility to own his soul, first if obviously Lilith, she’s is already a mysterious character that we don’t know that much about but let’s break down what we do know.
Lilith AKA the first woman before Eve did not want to be controlled by Adam and refused to submit, this led her into the arms of Lucifer who fell in love with her and through the down fall of Eden got cast down to hell along with Lucifer.
Even though Lucifer fell into heavy depression, Lilith started to thrive and became very powerful, powerful enough so the angels start the exterminations every year to keep hells numbers down. So what happened to her? Well we still have more to learn about her character and a lot of information is intentionally being kept secret but we can speculate that alastor 7 year absence was with Lilith however we learn Lilith has been living in a beach in heaven for X amount of time and in Adam’s defeat lute calls her to action.
But hold on we know Adam and lute don’t know alastor either and if alastor met with Lilith it would have to mean that it was before her going to heaven in the first place but alastor has still been gone for 7 years but not before he trapped a bunch of souls of overlords in the radio to scream for eternity. So what’s going on? Well I believe alastor did make a deal with Lilith however she doesn’t own he is soul because there’s another character who not only has the red eyes as if they own someone’s soul but alastor himself has taken a particular interest in. CHARLIE.
When Charlie gets mad we see her iconic demon horns form but her eyes also turn red and she still owns her own soul based on her eyes normally portraying as yellow same as Lucifer. But really think about it why would alastor a force so dangerous and feared across hell that all the overlords fear him want to help others get redeemed? Boredom? I don’t think so alastor doesn’t even think it will work to begin with so if he’s bored why not go on another killing spree and show everyone again why he’s feared? Why join the hotel?
Alastor also has taken a very particular interest in Charlie herself interrupting Lucifer’s song to specifically call out how much of a “father” he’s been to her and how much he “cares for her”.
But the most striking evidence is the deal that Charlie makes with alastor her eyes once again turn red they shake hands but alastor doesn’t or maybe can’t take her soul but can make a binding deal that she has to help him where she doesn’t harm anyone directly, but what do we see during this deal? Alastors smile gets revealed in stitches a forced smile. Even when alastor is having a mental breakdown he’s till smiling uncontruncontrollably.
And that’s another thing we see as a feature of own someone’s soul a binding chain of sorts alastor has a green chain around husks neck and Val has a red smoke symbolizing the drugs he’s addicted too on angel so Charlie shaking alastors hand reveals alastors true chains! But why?
Obviously Charlie wouldn’t do this to someone else and she doesn’t know alastor personally until after he comes to her door well I think for the bargain of the power alastor was given he made a deal with Lilith for power beyond any other overlord but instead of shaking hands with Lilith he shaking hands with baby Charlie making her the owner of his soul so alastor couldn’t harm her.
even alastor reminiscence over wanting to be set free and what he will do once he is I think that’s what Lilith was trying to stop and Charlie making a deal with alastor will result in him finally finding that loop whole to unclip his wings!
Thank you for listening to me ramble I really needed to get this off my chest

The Middle East red meat market is a critical component of the region's food supply chain, catering to the dietary preferences and cultural traditions of millions. However, this industry faces a myriad of challenges, from geopolitical tensions and economic fluctuations to supply chain disruptions and public health crises. Despite these hurdles, the sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. This blog explores how the Middle East red meat industry navigates these challenges, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality meat products to its consumers.

Geopolitical and Economic Challenges

The Middle East is a region marked by complex geopolitical dynamics and economic variability. Conflicts, trade embargoes, and political instability can disrupt the import and export of red meat, which is crucial given the region's heavy reliance on meat imports. For instance, countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait import significant quantities of beef and lamb to meet domestic demand.
To mitigate these risks, the red meat industry has diversified its import sources. By forging trade partnerships with multiple countries, including Brazil, Australia, and India, the industry reduces dependency on any single nation. Additionally, regional trade agreements within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have facilitated smoother intra-regional trade, enhancing supply chain resilience.

Supply Chain Resilience

Supply chain disruptions are a perennial challenge for the Middle East red meat market. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains, with lockdowns and transport restrictions causing delays and shortages. In response, the industry has invested in strengthening its logistics infrastructure.
Cold storage facilities have been expanded, and advanced tracking technologies have been adopted to ensure the timely and safe delivery of meat products. Moreover, local production capabilities have been bolstered. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are investing in domestic livestock farming and meat processing plants to reduce reliance on imports and enhance food security.

Adapting to Consumer Preferences

Consumer preferences in the Middle East are evolving, with increasing demand for high-quality, safe, and ethically sourced meat. The rise of health consciousness and dietary awareness has led to a growing market for organic and grass-fed meat products.
The industry has responded by adopting stringent quality control measures and certifications. Halal certification, a critical requirement in the region, ensures that meat products comply with Islamic dietary laws. Additionally, traceability systems have been implemented to allow consumers to verify the origins and quality of their meat, building trust and loyalty.

Navigating Environmental and Sustainability Concerns

Sustainability is becoming a key concern globally, and the Middle East is no exception. The red meat industry is often scrutinized for its environmental impact, particularly concerning water usage and greenhouse gas emissions. To address these issues, the industry is exploring sustainable farming practices and technologies.
Innovations such as precision farming, which optimizes resource use, and alternative feeds that reduce methane emissions, are gaining traction. Furthermore, some countries are investing in research and development of lab-grown meat and plant-based meat alternatives as part of their long-term sustainability strategies.

Leveraging Technology and Innovation

Technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing the resilience of the Middle East red meat market. From farm management software to blockchain for supply chain transparency, technological advancements are transforming the industry.
For instance, blockchain technology ensures end-to-end traceability, helping prevent fraud and ensuring that meat products are genuine and safe. Similarly, data analytics and artificial intelligence are being used to predict demand patterns, optimize inventory, and reduce waste.

Conclusion

The Middle East red meat industry, while facing numerous challenges, exemplifies resilience and adaptability. Through diversification of import sources, investment in local production, adoption of advanced technologies, and commitment to sustainability, the industry continues to thrive. As consumer preferences and global conditions evolve, the Middle East red meat market is poised to navigate future challenges with the same robustness and innovation that has characterized its response to past crises.
By continuing to invest in resilience-building measures, the Middle East red meat industry can ensure a stable, secure, and sustainable food supply for the region, contributing to its economic stability and food security.
Crisis Resilience: How the Middle East Red Meat Industry Navigates Challenges
The Middle East red meat market is a critical component of the region's food supply chain, catering to the dietary preferences and cultural traditions of millions. However, this industry faces a myriad of challenges, from geopolitical tensions and economic fluctuations to supply chain disruptions and public health crises. Despite these hurdles, the sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. This blog explores how the Middle East red meat industry navigates these challenges, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality meat products to its consumers.

Geopolitical and Economic Challenges

The Middle East is a region marked by complex geopolitical dynamics and economic variability. Conflicts, trade embargoes, and political instability can disrupt the import and export of red meat, which is crucial given the region's heavy reliance on meat imports. For instance, countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait import significant quantities of beef and lamb to meet domestic demand.
To mitigate these risks, the red meat industry has diversified its import sources. By forging trade partnerships with multiple countries, including Brazil, Australia, and India, the industry reduces dependency on any single nation. Additionally, regional trade agreements within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have facilitated smoother intra-regional trade, enhancing supply chain resilience.

Supply Chain Resilience

Supply chain disruptions are a perennial challenge for the Middle East red meat market. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains, with lockdowns and transport restrictions causing delays and shortages. In response, the industry has invested in strengthening its logistics infrastructure.
Cold storage facilities have been expanded, and advanced tracking technologies have been adopted to ensure the timely and safe delivery of meat products. Moreover, local production capabilities have been bolstered. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are investing in domestic livestock farming and meat processing plants to reduce reliance on imports and enhance food security.

Adapting to Consumer Preferences

Consumer preferences in the Middle East are evolving, with increasing demand for high-quality, safe, and ethically sourced meat. The rise of health consciousness and dietary awareness has led to a growing market for organic and grass-fed meat products.
The industry has responded by adopting stringent quality control measures and certifications. Halal certification, a critical requirement in the region, ensures that meat products comply with Islamic dietary laws. Additionally, traceability systems have been implemented to allow consumers to verify the origins and quality of their meat, building trust and loyalty.

Navigating Environmental and Sustainability Concerns

Sustainability is becoming a key concern globally, and the Middle East is no exception. The red meat industry is often scrutinized for its environmental impact, particularly concerning water usage and greenhouse gas emissions. To address these issues, the industry is exploring sustainable farming practices and technologies.
Innovations such as precision farming, which optimizes resource use, and alternative feeds that reduce methane emissions, are gaining traction. Furthermore, some countries are investing in research and development of lab-grown meat and plant-based meat alternatives as part of their long-term sustainability strategies.

Leveraging Technology and Innovation

Technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing the resilience of the Middle East red meat market. From farm management software to blockchain for supply chain transparency, technological advancements are transforming the industry.
For instance, blockchain technology ensures end-to-end traceability, helping prevent fraud and ensuring that meat products are genuine and safe. Similarly, data analytics and artificial intelligence are being used to predict demand patterns, optimize inventory, and reduce waste.

Conclusion

The Middle East red meat industry, while facing numerous challenges, exemplifies resilience and adaptability. Through diversification of import sources, investment in local production, adoption of advanced technologies, and commitment to sustainability, the industry continues to thrive. As consumer preferences and global conditions evolve, the Middle East red meat market is poised to navigate future challenges with the same robustness and innovation that has characterized its response to past crises.
By continuing to invest in resilience-building measures, the Middle East red meat industry can ensure a stable, secure, and sustainable food supply for the region, contributing to its economic stability and food security.

I recently went on a 4 weeks trip across 5 countries to celebrate our 14 year anniversary with my wife. We stayed at the following properties:
Fairfield Seoul
Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur
Marina Bay Sands Hotel
St. Regis Singapore
Ritz Carlton Fari Islands Maldives
Grand Sheraton Dubai
JW Marriott Dubai
Al Maha, Luxury Collection
Other than the MBS Hotel in Singapore, which was a bucket list hotel I really wanted to stay at, all other properties were under the Marriott portfolio. In this review, I will cover each of their stay impression from a Titanium Elite perspective. YMMV.
On this trip I experienced amazing service at almost all the Marriott properties. In fact, starting with the St. Regis in Singapore, the staff and elite recognition team coordinated with each of the subsequent properties I was going to visit and provided a bit of an over arching, consistent service experience. For example, the JW Marriott in Dubai requested a photo of my wife and I from the St. Regis Singapore team, which they made into a custom anniversary card and placed it in our suite as we checked in. They also received pointers on our favorite tea from the Ritz Carlton Maldives and added them to our room. Multiple Marriott properties on our trip teamed up and worked together to make our trip absolutely unforgettable. I have never felt so valued in my travels.

Fairfield Seoul

First up is the Fairfield Seoul. The location isn't the most amazing since it takes about 30 minutes to get to any major tourist attraction. However, it is right next to the yeongdeungpo train station so it is quite accessible in general as you can catch the train to go pretty much every direction in seoul. There is a coin laundry store 1 block away that opens 24 hours a day, and the airport transfer bus stops right in front of the hotel as well. In terms of amenities the hotel ticks all the right boxes.
Unfortunately for any Marriott loyalist, your elite status won't get you anything here as they don't offer free breakfast. There is also no nicer rooms or suites. The best they offered me was a higher floor room, which was like a shoe box. I had some pretty servere allergy when staying here as well, I think the ac unit aren't properly maintained and cleaned. It can be a cesspool for germs if not done. Although the elevator set up is nice and modern, where you swipe your card and it tells you which elevator to get in without you needing to press the floor button, higher floor sometimes still takes a long time to get into an elevator.
https://preview.redd.it/v1d7gyj1to2d1.jpg?width=1868&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14194a13603e8230680772c139bf6a869833410c
The restaurant on site, if you do want to have a breakfast buffet, has a fairly decent selection and is reasonably priced for western standards, at around 17,000 won. They claim it is independent from the hotel so no free breakfast for anyone. Nice for them to have the convenience of locating directly inside the hotel though, I wonder what their main clientele is?
Moxys will give you free breakfast and their locations are a bit better than fairfield. They cost slightly more per night. Something to consider.
https://preview.redd.it/qm7owqblto2d1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4ab9de37a7052ac477e9efdf46f6ac91db227e3
Staff wasn't very friendly. They do speak very good English in general, but aren't keen to help you much. For example, there was a pretty big pool of water on a bench in the lobby. I almost sat on it while I was waiting for my wife. I informed the front desk about the water, just letting them know it's there. 20 minutes after I was about to leave, the water was still there. Tells you how much they actually care about their job.
The good news is, this was the worst hotel on our entire trip, it is onward and upward from here.

Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur

While we were still in South Korea, Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur's team reached out to me. To my surprise, they offered me access to the club lounge, free breakfast, room upgrades, the whole 9 yards. You know, things that Ritz Carlton isn't required to offer to elite members. I got them all.
As we approach the hotel, we entered through a separate entrance, where club lounge access is located. For guests that have club lounge access, we checked in at the club, instead of going through the lobby. It was quite late by the time we arrived at the hotel, around 8pm. The Assistant Club Lounge Manager, Musaddiq Bin Muzafar, warmly greets us. I mention his name here because he is one of the finest, polite, and professional gentlmen I have ever encountered on my travels. He sat us down, took care of our luggages, then went through every little details on how the property was going to pamper us. The club lounge served 6 different meal services a day, it was just over the top. He apologized for not having mobile keys at the property, no big deal whatsoever. We had access to a 24 hour butler service, where we could get non-alcoholic drinks completely free any time of the day. The list went on and on.
https://preview.redd.it/azkct0mtto2d1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=08982b8acb5978c4ca4b3b169e7652b34342dfa3
The hotel is around 25 years old. However, you can definitely tell they spared no expense building this property. The marbles ran up and down the walls in addition to the floors. We were upgraded to a gorgeous one bedroom suite. Our hotel room was adorned with balloons, cholocates, towel arts to celebrate our special occasion. The rooms all have high ceilings. The entire bathrooms were marbled on all surfaces. The bed, on the firm side, is one of the best hotel beds I have ever rest in. The Mrs. agreed.
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We had the option of dining in the lounge or their main restaurant for breakfast. The latter was full of selections from the east and west. Some of the highlights included the freshly made roti and nasi lemak, the unusually thick cut smoke salmon, smoke duck, and crab omelette.
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We tried all the meal services other than lunch in the club lounge. The staff was very attentive, and we had the pleasure of Ms. Shi Ying taking care of us on many meal services there. Although she is fairly new at the hotel, her bright smile and quick to attendiness made our day just so much more relaxed. She comes across as geniune and enjoys her job very much, and was always quick to provide assistance and take our food and beverages orders. We know the hotel is good when we have a hard time wanting to leave the hotel and go see attractions, because the hotel is so comfortable.
Originally, we planned on getting a spa treatment once we are in another country. However, the world class service we received from the staff in Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur intrigued me to inquire about their spa facilities, and upon review, we made a couple bookings and were glad we did. I didn't get my massage therapist's name, but she was absolutely amazing, and is one of the best massage therapists I've ever encountered. I usually go with male massage therapists because of their stronger pressure, but this lady massage therapist at Kuala Lumpur was amazing and able to exert as much pressure as I needed. The 2 hour session practically flew by, and I was thoroughly relaxed after climbing 300 stairs at the Batu Cave.
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I casually mentioned to Mr. MD Monayem, another club lounge gentleman, that our flight out of Kuala Lumpur will be really early and thus we would unfortunately miss the world-class breakfast at their propertly. He promptly asked about my flight details, and proceed to arrange for a to-go breakfast for two, plus coffee, for 4:30am in the morning, all ready for us at the lobby when we check out. The butler swiftly brought our luggages down as MD planned a few days ahead, and we arrived in the airport without any surprises.
The Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur is one of the very best properties I have ever stayed in, not just because of their beautifully appointed facilities, but most importantly, their professional, caring, and warm ladies and gentlemen serving us. I will make it a point to return to this hotel next time I am in Kuala Lumpur, and ensure all my friends and acquaintances know about its legendary service.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Leaving Malaysia early in the morning, we arrived in Changi airport around 9am, and through the MRT, got to Marina Bay Sands Hotel's check in counter around 11am. Knowing that we were going to arrive early, we sent an email to the hotel a week early to see if there would be any opportunity for an early check-in. In the response, they mentioned the possibility subject to availability.
Upon arriving at the check-in desk at Tower 1, the atmosphere was quite a contrast from the friendly possibility conveyed in the email response. It first took us about 10 minutes of waiting, until someone approached us at the line. Before even looking at our booking, he told us promptly that check-in is not available until 3pm. I mentioned about the email corresspondence, and that is when he reluctantly took my reservation number, then told us to head down to Tower 3 and enquire there, since we would be staying at Tower 3. He also then said there will be a charge for early check-in if it is available.
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When we got to Tower 3, the check-in counter had 2 people on staff. One was helping a customer while the other stood there and looked at the other person, walking back and forth. Including us, there were 4 more sets of guests waiting in line. It took 30 minutes, I'm not exaggerating here, until that person that was doing nothing, acknowledge the guests in front of us in the line to go talk to him. Then another staff waved us down to go to the check-out counter to help us. The first couple was still standing at the counter, 30 minutes after, talking to the first staff. While we were waiting, the 4 of us in line started talking about how this extreme wait in line seemed to be a tactic from the hotel to discourage anyone to attempt to have an early check-in. To be honest, all I wanted to do at that point was to drop off my luggages for storage so we could be on our way.
At the Check-out counter, the lady kindly let us know it's because it is around their check out time of 11am, so they are mostly busy with checking the guests out. After some discussions, she advises us that if the room is ready before 3pm for early check-in, they will send us an email. She then proceeds to tell us in great details of all the fine-dining restaurants the hotel has to offer, including their multiple signature dishes from each restaurant. I then realized why it took so long for the preivouis guests. We wanted to get out of the hotel to go enjoy our day, so we wanted to leave. She then further informed us that there are renovations going on at Tower 3, and we are on the lower level. While the renovation is on the higher levels, we may still hear noises. I then asked if we could be moved to either Tower 1 or 2 to avoid the noises, she responded that our rate would not allow us to be in the nicer, newly renovated rooms of Tower 1 or 2, but she will do her best to give us the best room in the category in Tower 3. Considering the rate of booking this hotel was just shy of $1,000 SGD, I really didn't like hearing this information. Not only did MBS not inform us through email communication prior to our arrival, but the way the lady informed us the situation made us felt like we were some sort of poor guests that should've spend more to avoid noise inconvenience. We left the hotel a bit miffed, and went about our day. We were given temporary keys so we could access the rooftop pool, one of the main highlights of the hotel. We spent about an hour there before we left. It was nice, had a great view of the city, although a bit hot and smog. After the pool we went about our day.
We got the email notification that the room was ready at exactly 2:58pm. Once we checked into our room, my previous frustration with the frontline staff pretty much went away. The room was gorgeously appointed. The view to the Garden By The Bay (GBTB) was beautiful. The room itself was quite large, and the bathroom was marbled throughout, nothing short of a luxury hotel, and easily rivaled the Ritz or JW of the Marriott brands. The entire minibar was free as well. Shortly after our check-in, a gentleman arrived to provide some turndown service. He was quite eager to help, and provided us multiple bags of chips and more coffee and drinks.
I visited the pool at night for the second time, and this time I felt the magic of this rooftop infinity pool truly came alive. The lighting of the pool was a beautiful hue of turquoise. By now the city is lit up, the temperature dropped a bit, and people are clubbing in one of the rooftop bar with great music. Generally it had a great vibe. The view at night is nothing short of magical, and the pool wasn't very busy either so I never felt crowded. I ended up staying in the pool until it closed at midnight. This was one of the highlights of my Singapore visit.
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The night view of GBTB from our room was even more beautiful than during the day. I took the opportunity and walked around the hotel, and all the way towards GBTB, pass 1am, and took in all its amazing architecture. This hotel is definitely an architectural and engineering masterpiece.
In the morning, the gentleman from the evening turndown service returned to offer more tea. I asked for his name this time. Chang Cheng was very courteous and we really appreciated his attententiveness during our stay.
Although we were offered a discount at their Rise restaurant for breakfast, we decided to go to the casino solely to have a lobster laksa noodle soup from the restaurant within. It was delicious. I also browsed the gift shop situated within the hotel, and bought a book that talked about how the MBS hotel was built.
Throughout our stay, we didn't hear the noise from renovation at all. And upon our check out, the frontline staff graciously offered us a 1-hour late check-out without any hesitation, which we really appreciated. As we called our grab to leave the hotel, the bell service staff checked our Grab details, invited us to wait inside the air-conditioned space, then queued us to head out as our Grab arrived, which we also very much appreciated their care in the service.
Overall I was quite satisfied from this stay, minus the initial impression during the arrival process. I recognize the staff warned us about the renovation noise to temper expectation, but perhaps the delivery could be better, and really don't let your guests wait in line for more than 10 minutes if possible. The hotel's hard product is world class and top notch, while the soft product could use some improvement.

St. Regis Singapore

After a bit of a lackluster service at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the St. Regis Singapore promptly reminded me why I remain loyal to Marriott properties. As we sit at the individual check-in desk (nice to be sitting down and check-in), Ms. Syikin, the Guest Relations Manager drops by and personnally welcomed us to the hotel. This was our very first time staying at a St. Regis, and immediately we were greeted by her warm welcome.
We were provided a beautiful, classically appointed Caroline Astor Suite. All the blinds were automatic, all the furniture were exotic solid wood, and the living room had a gorgeous view over the area. Our bedroom had a beautiful art adorn above the headboard, and similar to the Ritz, the bathroom had marble throughout all its surfaces, while having a beautifully symmetrical his and her sink. In addition, this is also the first hotel i stayed at where the shower has side jets that provides a nice soft massage during shower. The slight improvement this suite could have would be having some additional universal plugs at the nightstand tables. unfortunately because all the furniture feature set wood types and unique pattern, it would have looked out of place if they replaced those night stand tables with modern appointments.
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Although the hotel did not feature an executive lounge, an afternoon refershment for elite member was offered in their Astor Bar. the cheeses offered were absolutely amazing. I especially loved the goat and blue cheese. We also witnessed for the first time, the St. Regis tradition of the sabering ritual, where they took a 2 feet long saber and pop open a champaigne. It was quite a sight to see.
The breakfast at St. Regis Singapore is one of the best breakfast offerings I have had on this long trip, across 9 hotel properties. They had the eastern offerings on the buffet table spanning chinese, indian, and japanese, while the western offerings can be ordered off their menu, all inclusive to the buffet price. Some of the highlights included the Uni Inari sushi, the kaya toast, and the made to order eggs benedicts. Towards the end of our breakfast, Syikin drops by to say hi, and provided us with some beautiful tea blends exclusive to St. Regis Singapore, as well as a luxurious luggage tag that I now adorn on my luggage. Upon our conversation, turns out she knows a few colleagues at the Ritz Carlton Maldives, where we are headed next, and sent them an email to inform our arrival.
I can confidently say that St. Regis Singapore is one of the very best hotels I have ever stayed at. We truly appreciated Ms. Syikin's attentiveness to her brand loyalists, and look forward to return to the hotel in the near future.

Ritz Carlton Fari Islands Maldives

The Ritz Carlton Maldives is the pinnacle of our hotel stays to date. Coming in with a hefty price tag, this resort has an unparalleled hard product, and top notch service. The experience starts as soon as we landed in Male. The Ritz is one of a few luxury resorts in the Maldives that doesn't have its own dedicated arrival lounge in the airport, so they took us to a restaurant that we were able to order anything off the menu with them taking care of the bill. However, it took us a while before we were greeted onto the vessel as they had some issues with their standard high speed boat. So as a trade for our inconvenience, we were greeted by a beautiful yacht that took 85 minutes instead of the standard 45 minutes to reach the resort. I have heard a lot of other reviews regarding the high speed boat not being the most comfortable vessel and some guests got sea sick. This yacht was nicely appointed and had onboard wifi. We also headed to the upper deck and enjoyed the view. Generally it was a very comfortable ride and we definitely travelled in style to the resort. Onboard the yacht, the staff provided a beautiful snack box and would be refilled on demand, not that we could eat anymore given we just had multiple meals in the airport lounge, on the plane, and now on the yacht.
Our Aris Meeha (personal butler) Shuhu, greeted us at the arrival jetty, along with the guest experience manager. Shuhu drove us with a buggy, while leaving all of our luggage behind for the bell service to take care of. Each and every one of our luggage was given a beautiful Ritz-Carlton Maldives luggage tag, with our room number and details written on there. As we arrive to our villa, we see our personalized bicycles with wooden name plates, and a beautiful sand art made on the bridge to our Villa that welcomes us "home".
We opted for the overwater, 2 bedroom villa. This is by far the best hotel room I have ever had the blessing to stay in. The villa had the best of both worlds in terms of its location. It is located on the main island, with its own lush vegetated private road for added privacy, then a bridge that connects from the end of the island towards the villa itself, which completely sits above the water. With just under 4,000 sqft of total liveable space, the living room and both bedrooms have floor to ceiling windows that can fully open to the deck, which features a full length private pool. To the side of the pool there is a outdoor dining table, 2 full size circular sofa beds, and the ladder access directly into the lagoon.
As a toss up between the Ritz and St. Regis Maldives, I picked the Ritz for its newer villa in exchange for a lack of established coral reef. To my pleasant surprise, because of the way this particular villa is situated off the island, there are quite a bit of established reef to the side of the island, meaning I had some of the best snorkeling just outside of my own villa. It was also quite a delight to snorkel under the villa and its connecting bridge to the island while chasing fishes, adding some terrain variety.
The villa itself is well appointed with technology. In addition to the 3 very large screen smart TVs, a Bang & Olufson bluetooth headphone was provided, which I enjoyed using during my stay. The master bedroom's bathroom had a dual interioexterior shower, which we used multiple times a day. Our housekeeper, Arif, also provided us an exquisitely laid out bubble bath for our arrival and a couple days in. It is absolutely heavenly, to have the ability to go snorkeling right outside of our villa, come up and swim in the private pool, walk over for a nice shower, than jump into a bubble bath, every single day during our stay.
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Speaking of Arif, he was perhaps the most detail orientated housekeeper we have ever encountered. I had some pollen allergy when I arrived on the island. Arif came by the second day with extra tissue boxes for my comfort. He also noticed we like our water cold, so he cleared the mini bar fridge (which was all included except for alcohol), and placed all of the supplied water in the fridge for us. As a part of the stay, many snacks are provided in the villa, which he would refill twice a day if consumed.
We were invited to a couple elite member appreciation reception. There were quite a bit of drinks and fancy appetizers served, including caviar on smoke salmon. During this event a few restaurants and food selections were recommended to us, which we tried later. Some of the highlights included the In-Villa-Dining's Veal Cheek Soup, and the waffle during breakfast. The former had some of the most tender beef I've ever had in a Taiwanese style beef noodle soup, while the latter was literally the best waffle I've ever had, it was soft and fluffy on the inside, while featuring an extremely thin, and not overly crispy outer shell. The breakfast buffet had a healthy amount of selection, although not the most elaborate I've ever seen, but has a Chinese noodle soup station, and an Indian masala dosa station, with made to order western eggs and desserts varieties. Some of the highlights for me included the lobster chilli omelette, the really authentic chicken noodle soup, the waffles, and the Shakshuka (a middle eastern dish that has spices, bell peppers and sunny side up eggs).
There are quite a number of premium restaurants on site. We tried the tum tum food truck which featured Taiwanese style gua bao with fancy fillings such as lobsters or softshell crabs, and Arabesque which featured indian and middle eastern style cuisines. At Arabesque, we had a lightly battered, spice blended, Egyptian seafood platter, which featured freshly caught local fish, and the largest prawn I've ever seen in my life. The minced lamb wrap was also very delicious. These 2 restaurants are located in a nearby island with another resort, which has regularly scheduled ferries servicing between it and the Ritz island.
The highlight of our culinary delight on the resort however, had to go to Summer Pavilion. This restaurant's food is at a Michelin Star level. Our server, Eliza, took great care of me. I went to the restaurant alone, while my wife stayed in the Villa, a bit under the weather. Shuhu passed on this information to Eliza, and I planned to pack half of my food back for my wife. Eliza added a chicken noodle soup to the order considering my wife's wellness. I've never seen such care in a Michelin stars restaurant, let alone a regular restaurant. I had the privilege to try out 3 dishes, the Lobster Rice Soup, the Crab Fried Rice, and the Chilli Oil Prim Rib. The first dish was creative yet not pretentious, while the 2 latter dishes are the best variation I've ever had. After the meal, instead of me carrying the takeout back to the villa, the restaurant prepared dedicated room service and delivered the food to us.
I tried out the Signature Spa package at the resort, a 180 minute experience that did not come cheap. It was an amazing massage with a full steam sauna, coconut bath, dry sauna, and coconut scrub treatment. Very relaxing, but had 3 showers as a part of the experience, which I thought could probably do with one less, and I thought the value proposition isn't as good as a few other spa I have visited around the world.
As we depart the resort, we were treated to a completely different yacht, leaving yet again in style. Once we arrived at the airport, the Ritz staff took care of our luggage all the way till the flight check-in, without us needing to lift a finger. He even came with us through the primary security screening to further help us with our luggage. In the end, I look back to this particular resort with fond memories, and the legendary services provided by the staff like Shuhu, Arif, and Eliza. However, as we are not so used to such an attentive service in our travel, it was a bit overwhelming at first. I think Shuhu quickly noticed our style and was able to adapt. I think it may be worthwhile for the Aris Meeha to ask the guests initially what their service interval/intensity preferences are, to further tailor to their liking. We also felt there was a bit of sale pressure from the staff regarding restaurant bookings, spa product offerings, excursion bookings and such. Maybe they were just trying to be helpful as those things would be what fill an itinenary in a Maldives resort island.
Finally, I think it would not be a fair review without talking about the value proposition at this resort. This is the best hotel property we have ever stayed at in our entire life. The service, the villa, and the facilities are all world class, and I've had some of the best meals of my life at this resort. Considering it is literally in the middle of the Indian ocean, thousands of miles from major culture centres, it is nothing short of a feat to have such high quality, international cuisines all available at this resort. But other than the meal at the Summer Pavilion, I still have a bit of internal challenge justifying spending $50 USD on a personal sized pizza, $480 USD on a spa treatment, or $2,000 USD on the yacht rides to and from the airport.
Bottomline is, the Ritz-Carlton Maldives is the best hotel I have ever stayed in my life. Although a bit overpriced in some regards, the service and attention to details of the staff, the design and appointments of the villa, and the world class facilities and location together made memories that we will never forget.

Grand Sheraton Dubai

Exchanging the beach for the desert, we head into Sheraton Grand in Dubai. Upon our arrival around 3pm, the front desk invited us to the executive lounge first while preparing an upgraded Deluxe Suite for us. We enjoyed the afternoon tea in the lounge, which consisted of many sweet and savory selections. Amongst the many choices, the shrimp with caviar was my favorite.
Upon entering the suite, we were provided with a beautiful spread of towel art to celebrate our anniversary. A nice card and a cake was also provided. The suite itself had a gorgeous view over this cool looking, seesaw like tower, as well as the trade centre roundabout, which I quickly dubbed "the roundabout from hell". Nevertheless, we absolutely loved the metropolis view this suite provided, given we just spent a week in front of the beach. The hotel offered complementary valet service, which was a godsend for us as we rented a car during our stay.
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The breakfast spread at the restaurant Feast is really impressive, essentially featuring all the international dishes we grew accustomed from our time in the Maldives. Surprisingly, one of my favorite dishes from this huge selection was the seemingly unassuming hashbrown. It is really crispy and light, compared to some other buffets that sometimes have it soggy as it sits in the hot plate. Another highlight is its really thick and fluffy french toast, it had a generous amount of eggs.
The staff in general are very friendly. We did run into a few small hiccups that the lovely Ms. Shahenda in the executive lounge addressed for us on multiple occasions. Upon check out, Mr. Youssef, the Room Manager, personally greeted us and took notes of the situation, which in turn gives me full confidence future guests will experience the smoothest service this hotel offers. As we are heading to other hotels, Mr. Youssef also sent a personal note to them to coordinate our arrival, which we very much appreciated.

JW Marriott Dubai

For a hotel that has 1600 rooms, JW Marriott Dubai did not disappoint in the service department. As soon as we arrived at the property, valet swiftly opened our doors, unloaded our luggage, provided claim ticket, and escorted us straight to the elite check-in counter. The check-in staff seemed really prepared for our arrival, from recognizing our names, knowing we came from Sheraton Grand, to highlighting our upgrade to the Deluxe Corner Suite with a view to the Burj, and congratulating on our anniversary, elite status, plus the details of the facilities at the hotel, the entire check-in process showed the property is a very well oiled machine in terms of its top notch service.
We were absolutely floored when we checked into our room. Needless to say, the beautiful towel arts, flower petals, and a prepared bubble bath in the luxurious suite already went beyond our expectation, but what blew us away was on the table in the living room, accompanying the chocolates and macaroon was a custom made card, with a photo of us. The team at JW coordinated with our previous stay at the Singapore St. Regis and obtained our photo to put up this surprise for us. In addition to all these extravagance, the team also included a nice JW braided reusable bag on the side.
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The club lounge's evening service had amazing food throughout our stay. I loved the laksa from the hot station one night, but the chicken tenders, satay beef, chicken quesadilla and shawarma are all great tasting. Staff at the lounge are very attentive, with the managers personally come over to thank us for our loyalty with Marriott. Furthermore, on our last day, the staff in the lounge collectively brought us another tiramisu cake to enjoy, and congratulated on our anniversary with a signed card.
JW Marriott Dubai stood out amongst all of our recent hotel stays with its over the top service, great food in the club lounge, and beautiful rooms. I cannot recommend this hotel more.

Al Maha, Luxury Collection

After a full week in the metropolis Dubai, we head out to the desert to experience Dubai's another side. Al Maha staff takes good care of us as soon as we arrive, first by valeting our car, unload our luggage, then welcomes us to an isolated room of the main reception for the check in process. We selected our included activities, enjoyed our welcome drinks, then went on our way to our suite.
The suite is unique in the sense that it has a tent-like ceiling, and perhaps the largest oversized king size bed I've ever slept in. Unfortunately the bed although comfortable, is too soft for my personal preference. We loved the chaise in front of the bed for us to sit and take in the view. The bathroom is quite roomy and comfortable. I loved the aesthetic design of the private pool, but there were a lot of bugs inside the pool so we didn't use it at all. It served well as a water source for nearby birds though.
The camel ride was really nice. the guides planned the tour well so by the time we arrived at the spot, the sun is just about to set, and they had a nice reception set up with refreshment and snacks. Back in the reception area during high tea, we tried the camel milk, let's just say it's an aquired taste.
The dining at this property was just out of this world. All the meals we had were amazing, with the dinner under the moonlight, breakfast in the air-conditioned restaurant, and lunch in the suite. Some of my favorites include the Omani Prawn, Al Maha Um Ali, and the Lamb Chops. All 3 locations are extremely romantic, I highly recommend for honeymooners.
Contrary to other reviewers, I personally felt a 1 night stay at Al Maha should suffice, since you really can't do anything outside from 9am to 5pm due to the extreme heat. For most of the day, we stayed in the suite and just relaxed and enjoyed the view, watching the animals come and go. It is a surreal experience to be in the middle of a desert with all the first world luxury available to us.

Summary

We thoroughly enjoyed almost all of our stays at the Marriott properties, and because of that stay at MBS, it further showed how far my elite status were recognized and honoured in all the other properties. What really blew me away was the collaborations between all the properties to make our trip extra special. It almost felt like the hotel staff travelled with us to the next destination. This experience has been so great that I would likely remain loyal to the Marriott brand for many years to come.

I got a load of second hands from FB marketplace, which I love, and my mum picked me up a couple of Little Lambs cotton fitted diapers from a second hand baby store. They're adorable and so fluffy, but not what I was planning on using. Now I have them, I will of course use them, but, do I NEED wraps for them? This would be an extra thing I now need to buy for something I didn't originally plan on using until my mum got them.
Also, side note about bleaching. I haven't done a huge amount of research yet, but I'm reading a lot on here about bleaching used diapers. Makes sense, but I hate bleach. I will use it if necessary for my baby, of course, but I'm wondering if vinegar and sunlight will have the same effect? Also, will the bleach ruin the cute patterns on my pocket diapers?

I read an article today about how women of my generation (90s-2000s) were primed to fall for bad partners because we were conditioned to believe that with enough love, we could fix him; if I didn’t fix him, evidently I hadn’t loved him well enough, or simply, I was not beautifully, kind, alluring or good enough to heal and fix him. The article cited A Walk to Remember as a prime example of the kind of tale we are told, that if a guy falls for a kind and pure girl, he will change his entire life and become a loving, great man because of her influence. That hit me, because I had unconsciously adopted that mentality - I was (still am) a Christian, celibate, apparently kind and good girl who is often cited as "pure" and "adorable" and "good girl." I was surrounded by men who slept around, were hurting girls around them, and I thought that I could change them, for years and years, just by being good and kind and charming for them. A covert narcissist finally broke me last year. BIG TIME. Because nothing I did was enough, he didn’t let go, I gave him all the energy and happiness and light I had to give, and he subtly tore me down, emotionally cheated, and gaslit me to hell and back, stonewalled, insulted, pressured, invalidated and hurt me deeply. That finally broke me… and after I read this article, it’s like the pieces finally came together. I had been calling it "Beauty and the Beast" syndrome, but really, all the good romcoms about the bad boy falling for the good girl, they all set me up for failure. It is on me to break the pattern, of course, now that I am aware; however, I am so angry at the zeitgeist for essentially raising me like a lamb to slaughter. I am even angrier at my ex covert narcissist, who broke my spirit and heart so totally that I am now numb and dead inside romantically…

Hi guys,
In the past few months/years, I’ve been experimenting with different supplements. A few days ago, I decided to replace all essential supplements with food (vitamins and minerals).
I was wondering about these last two: Zinc and Magnesium. Based on my research, Zinc and Magnesium are found in these types of food:
Foods Rich in Zinc:

• Oysters: One of the best sources of zinc.
• Red meat: Beef, lamb, and game meat.
• Poultry: Chicken and turkey, especially the dark meat.
• Beans: Chickpeas, lentils, and black beans.
• Nuts and seeds: Pumpkin seeds, cashews, and almonds.
• Dairy products: Milk, cheese, and yogurt.
• Whole grains: Oats, quinoa, and brown rice.
• Seafood: Crab and lobster.

Foods Rich in Magnesium:

• Leafy greens: Spinach, kale, and Swiss chard.
• Nuts and seeds: Almonds, sunflower seeds, and Brazil nuts.
• Legumes: Black beans, lentils, and chickpeas.
• Whole grains: Brown rice, whole wheat, and buckwheat.
• Fish: Mackerel, salmon, and halibut.
• Bananas: Convenient and good for a magnesium boost.
• Dark chocolate: A tasty source of magnesium.
• Avocado: Nutrient-rich and full of healthy fats.

Do you think I can get enough from food, or do I need to supplement with pills? For example, on sunny days, I do not take Vitamin D. When I drink lots of lemon water, I do not take Vitamin C, and so on. This is the same pattern with Zinc and Magnesium.
Thanks a lot!

Hi! I've been on an odyssey of metal discovery for the last few months. I'm not new to all metal, I got into nu-metal as a teen (showing my age here) and I found a few bands that I fell in love with along the way (Tool, Rammstein, and Volbeat for example) but I never listened to anything older, and I found that I just didn't enjoy the sound of more modern metal bands, so I just assumed I wasn't really a metalhead.
Weirdly, what got me exploring more metal was a random YouTube recommended video by Bradley Hall, where he does what 60 famous bands sound like to those who don't like them (recommended video btw, his impressions of Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and Blink 182 had me in stitches).
But I thought, I only know a handful of these bands, and the ones I was familiar with (like Metallica) I'd never actually listened to. So I set about listening to a lot of the bands he featured in the video, and went from there, learning all about metal subgenres, waves of metal and pioneering bands, and I feel like I discovered this whole new world that was under my nose this whole time.
My favourite subgenres (and bands) so far are heavy metal (Judas Priest - how have I never listened to Judas Priest?! Absolute favourite so far) and thrash, specifically 80s thrash (Slayer are my favourite, but found some amazing Megadeth and Metallica tracks).
My best friend is into black metal, and as soon as she knew I was looking into metal she spammed me with black metal recommendations. I wouldn't say that I'm nuts about black metal but I've learned to appreciate it on a certain level. Mostly, the history and subculture of black metal are what I find fascinating, and I've watched a few documentaries (about THAT band). Then I learned about first wave black metal, and I found I prefer that. (Early) Bathory are amazing, I listened to three albums straight by them the other night. For the later stuff, I found symphonic black metal (Dimmu Borgir) and folk black metal (Moonsorrow) pretty good.
Then, I discovered doom metal, which was pretty good but then I found epic doom metal like Crypt Sermon, which is really amazing stuff. I think I've played Key of Solomon by Crypt Sermon about 30 times in the last month.
So, finding all of this amazing music, both old and modern, made me think about the mainstream metal that I always hear about and tried to get into through the 2000s and 2010s but just couldn't get on with. Bands like Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God, all these kinds of bands, they tend to employ certain techniques, vocal styles, riff patterns etc that don't do much for me and I'm trying to figure out if there's a commonality, like are they the same genre? Or related genres? I keep hearing the terms "metalcore" and "new wave of American heavy metal" but I don't know if either of those apply to the specific trend of sound that puts me off. At first I just thought maybe I'm an old fart that only likes old music, but a lot of the stuff I've got into like Crypt Sermon, Phantom, Traveler, Hellripper, Mastodon (and even Ghost, but let's not open the Ghost can of worms lol) are modern bands. I'm not a fan of death metal style vocals, but I've learned to like the scratchier shrieking vocals of black metal (though some are a bit too high pitched and make me think of Gollum).
Anyway, just thought I'd share my thoughts, and if any recommendations come to mind, feel free to comment them!
My four best discoveries so far? Judas Priest, Slayer, Crypt Sermon, and Bathory.

This is an expansion of a recent post and also incorporates some ideas from this theory (by u/ndependent-Design17). Throughout the series the reader is repeatedly reminded that "only death can pay for life" — that magic, especially powerful magic, comes at great cost.

"Only death can pay for life, my lord. A great gift requires a great sacrifice.”

Davos, ASOS
This phrase or variations of this phrase are repeated by Melisandre, Mirri, etc. at various points throughout the series. That which follows is a highly speculative theory on the nature of the cost of magic in the series. Specifically, that souls are central to the exercise of magic and can be used as magic currency.

1. establishing the concept of the soul

Oh, to be sure, there is much we do not understand. The years pass in their hundreds and their thousands, and what does any man see of life but a few summers, a few winters? We look at mountains and call them eternal, and so they seem… but in the course of time, mountains rise and fall, rivers change their courses, stars fall from the sky, and great cities sink beneath the sea. Even gods die, we think. Everything changes.

Bran, AGOT
What happens after we die? Is there some part of us that lives on or do we simply cease to exist. These are fundamental questions that are essentially unanswerable in life but not in ASOIAF. The reader is given a point-of-view account of death in the prologue of ADWD. After unsuccessfully attempting to steal the body of Thistle, a wildling spearwife, Varamyr dies and briefly becomes a disembodied consciousness:

The white world turned and fell away. For a moment it was as if he were inside the weirwood, gazing out through carved red eyes as a dying man twitched feebly on the ground and a madwoman danced blind and bloody underneath the moon, weeping red tears and ripping at her clothes. Then both were gone and he was rising, melting, his spirit borne on some cold wind. He was in the snow and in the clouds, he was a sparrow, a squirrel, an oak. A horned owl flew silently between his trees, hunting a hare; Varamyr was inside the owl, inside the hare, inside the trees. Deep below the frozen ground, earthworms burrowed blindly in the dark, and he was them as well. I am the wood, and everything that’s in it, he thought, exulting.

Prologue, ADWD
Afterward his "spirit," or soul, is eventually transferred into a body of wolf and he begins his second life. This event, and the process of skin-changing more generally, appears to involve projection or transfer of a soul from one body into another. The process of projecting or transferring souls to either animal vessels or the weirwoods is central to the magic of the Children of the Forest.

“Someone else was in the raven,” he told Lord Brynden, once he had returned to his own skin. “Some girl. I felt her.”
“A woman, of those who sing the song of earth,” his teacher said. “Long dead, yet a part of her remains, just as a part of you would remain in Summer if your boy’s flesh were to die upon the morrow. A shadow on the soul. She will not harm you.”
"Do all the birds have singers in them?"
“All,” Lord Brynden said.

Bran, ADWD
After death a "shadow on the soul" of the Singers remain in the crows. The soul of Orell is also described as living on in the body of his eagle after his death.
This process appears to take two forms: the soul can be temporarily projected from one body into another (e.g., as happens when Bran skin-changes into Hodor) or can be permanently transferred as is described in the separate examples above.
These transferred souls merge with their recipient, at least to some degree, and may decay over time:

"The wolf is part of you from that day on, and you’re part of him. Both of you will change.”
Other beasts were best left alone, the hunter had declared. Cats were vain and cruel, always ready to turn on you. Elk and deer were prey; wear their skins too long, and even the bravest man became a coward. Bears, boars, badgers, weasels … Haggon did not hold with such. “Some skins you never want to wear, boy. You won’t like what you’d become.” Birds were the worst, to hear him tell it. “Men were not meant to leave the earth. Spend too much time in the clouds and you never want to come back down again.
...
"They say you forget," Haggon had told him, a few weeks before his own death.
"When the man's flesh dies, his spirit lives on inside the beast, but every day his memory fades, and the beast becomes a little less a warg, a little more a wolf, until nothing of the man is left and only the beast remains."

Prologue, ADWD
Bran is provided with similar warnings about the danger of spending too much time in Summer's skin by Jojen.

2. shadow magic requires souls

As above the reader is repeatedly reminded throughout the series that "only death can pay for life." What is specifically being sacrificed, though? Is the magic being fueled by the blood of the sacrificed or by something else?
To answer this let us examine one of the most concrete example of magic in the series, the use or exchange of Stannis Baratheon's "life-fire" in order for Melisandre to manifest the shadows used to kill Renly Baratheon and Courtney Penrose.

Shadows only live when given birth by light, and the king's fires burn so low I dare not draw off any more to make another son. It might well kill him."
Melisandre moved closer.
"With another man, though... a man whose flames still burn hot and high... if you truly wish to serve your king's cause, come to my chamber one night. I could give you pleasure such as you have never known, and with your life-fire I could make..."

Davos, ASOS
According to this explanation, the cost of producing these shadow appears to have been part of his "life-fire," or soul. The shadow is specifically described as having the shape Stannis supporting this. Whether this applies to other types of magic — specifically blood magic or fire magic — is less clear but shadow magic very much appears to require the use of souls.
This type of exchange is also directly referenced in the story of the Night's King provided by Old Nan:

A woman was his downfall; a woman glimpsed from atop the Wall, with skin as white as the moon and eyes like blue stars. Fearing nothing, he chased her and caught her and loved her, though her skin was cold as ice, and when he gave his seed to her he gave his soul as well. (Credit to u/DigLost5791 for this reference.)

Bran, ASOS
Stannis is described by Davos afterward as follows:

The look of him was a shock. He seemed ten years older than the man that Davos had left at Storm’s End when he set sail for the Blackwater and the battle that would be their undoing. The king’s close-cropped beard was spiderwebbed with grey hairs, and he had dropped two stone or more of weight. He had never been a fleshy man, but now the bones moved beneath his skin like spears, fighting to cut free. Even his crown seemed too large for his head. His eyes were blue pits lost in deep hollows, and the shape of a skull could be seen beneath his face.

Davos, ASOS
Asha later describes Stannis as appearing life a "man with one foot in the grave."

What little flesh he’d carried on his tall, spare frame at Deepwood Motte had melted away during the march. The shape of his skull could be seen under his skin, and his jaw was clenched so hard Asha feared his teeth might shatter.

Asha, ADWD
These descriptions seem appropriate for a character that has lost part of their "life-fire" or soul.
Throughout the series Stannis is forced to make a series of increasingly difficult decisions. The most significant of these decisions regards the fate of his nephew, Eric Storm. Melisandre repeatedly urges him to "give [her] the boy," presumably to be burned, but is rebuffed by Stannis.

“I know the cost! Last night, gazing into that hearth, I saw things in the flames as well. I saw a king, a crown of fire on his brows, burning… burning, Davos. His own crown consumed his flesh and turned him into ash. Do you think I need Melisandre to tell me what that means? Or you?” The king moved, so his shadow fell upon King’s Landing.
"…what is the life of one bastard boy against a kingdom?”
“Everything,” said Davos, softly.

Davos, ASOS
Is the life of this bastard boy worth the lives of millions that would die if the Others break through the Wall? Making a deal with the devil and literally selling his soul in pursuit of some greater good seems very appropriate for his character, thematically. The description of his flesh turning to ash in this vision is representative also supports this interpretation.

3. blood and fire magic

As opposed to the creation of the shadows described above, we are also provided an example of so-called blood magic in the leech burning ritual.

“Give me the boy, Your Grace. It is the surer way. The better way. Give me the boy and I shall wake the stone dragon.”
...
Melisandre bowed her head stiffly, and said, “As my king commands.” Reaching up her left sleeve with her right hand, she flung a handful of powder into the brazier. The coals roared. As pale flames writhed atop them, the red woman retrieved the silver dish and brought it to the king. Davos watched her lift the lid. Beneath were three large black leeches, fat with blood. The boy’s blood, Davos knew. A king’s blood. Stannis stretched forth a hand, and his fingers closed around one of the leeches.
“Say the name,” Melisandre commanded.

Davos, ASOS
Following this ritual all of the mentioned individuals do die but do so as the part of separate conspiracies (e.g., Robb Stark is betrayed by the Freys and Boltons, Joffrey Baratheon by Littlefinger and the Tyrells, etc.) which were already in place. It is left intentionally ambiguous by the author but it does not appear that the ritual meaningfully contributed to their deaths.
The creation of the shadows is said by Melisandre to have required part of Stannis' "life-fire" or soul. Could it be that the leech burning ritual was unsuccessful because blood alone is not sufficient as a sacrifice?
These forms of magic are frequently described in the community as "shadow magic" and "blood magic." These concepts — "fire and blood" and "flame and shadow" — are highly associated with one another in the text:

“Shadow?" Davos felt his flesh prickling. "A shadow is a thing of darkness."
”You are more ignorant than a child, ser knight. There are no shadows in the dark. Shadows are the servants of light, the children of fire. The brightest flame casts the darkest shadows."

Davos, ACOK
I speculate that these are different expressions of the same concept; that all of these fall under the general umbrella of fire magic and share common principles. "Fire consumes and in the end there's nothing left."

4. dancing shadows

The tent was aglow with the light of braziers within. Through the blood-spattered sandsilk, she glimpsed shadows moving.
Mirri Maz Duur was dancing, and not alone.
...
No, Dany wanted to say, no, not that, you mustn’t, but when she opened her mouth, a long wail of pain escaped, and the sweat broke over her skin. What was wrong with them, couldn’t they see?
Inside the tent the shapes were dancing, circling the brazier and the bloody bath, dark against the sandsilk, and some did not look human. She glimpsed the shadow of a great wolf, and another like a man wreathed in flames.
“The Lamb Woman knows the secrets of the birthing bed,” Irri said. “She said so, I heard her.”
“Yes,” Doreah agreed, “I heard her too.”
No, she shouted, or perhaps she only thought it, for no whisper of sound escaped her lips. She was being carried. Her eyes opened to gaze up at a flat dead sky, black and bleak and starless. Please, no. The sound of Mirri Maz Duur’s voice grew louder, until it filled the world. The shapes! She screamed. The dancers!
Ser Jorah carried her inside the tent.

Daenerys, AGOT
The introduction of shadow magic in the series is provided above with Mirri Max Duur. Following this ritual Drogo is described as a lifeless husk:

"He seems to like the warmth, Princess," Ser Jorah said. "His eyes follow the sun, though he does not see it. He can walk after a fashion. He will go where you lead him, but no farther. He will eat if you put food in his mouth, drink if you dribble water on his lips."

Daenerys, AGOT
It has previously been speculated that Mirri "reverse skin-changed" Drogo (e.g., "strength of the mount go into the rider, strength of the beast go into the man."). The description provided is less consistent with a horse soul inhabiting a human body than it is with the complete or near-complete absence of a soul. It appears more likely in retrospect that Mirri sacrificed part of Drogo's soul to summon the shadows and likely as a means to kill Daenerys' unborn child.

“The stallion who mounts the world will burn no cities now. His khalasar shall trample no nations into dust."

Daenerys, AGOT

5. reanimation

If "only death can pay for life" and souls are used as a form of magical currency how does one explain the reanimation or resurrection process?
There is a paucity of information on the reanimation of the dead in the series. The resurrection of Beric Dondarrion, for example, appears to be different in fundamental ways from that of the wights or Cold Hands. (We are potentially given a point-of-view account of this process if you accept that Victarion died in ADWD.)

“Thoros, how many times have you brought me back now?”
The red priest bowed his head. “It is R’hllor who brings you back, my lord. The Lord of Light. I am only his instrument.”
“How many times?” Lord Beric insisted.
“Six,” Thoros said reluctantly.
“And each time is harder. You have grown reckless, my lord. Is death so very sweet?”
Arya, ASOS

There is no immediately identifiable magical cost for these "kisses of life," at least at first glance. Thoros later tells us that he breathed part of his "flames" or soul into Beric:

“That first time, his lordship had a hole right through him and blood in his mouth, I knew there was no hope. So when his poor torn chest stopped moving, I gave him the good god's own kiss to send him on his way. I filled my mouth with fire and breathed the flames inside him, down his throat to lungs and heart and soul. The last kiss it is called, and many a time I saw the old priests bestow it on the Lord's servants as they died." (Credit to u/watchersontheweb for providing this quote in the initial thread.)

Arya, ASOS
Thoros is also described as appearing very different after performing this ritual several times in a way that is not entirely dissimilar to the changes in Stannis’ appearance referenced above.

“Here’s the wizard, skinny squirrel. You’ll get your answers now.”
He pointed toward the fire, where Tom Sevenstrings stood talking to a tall thin man with oddments of old armor buckled on over his ratty pink robes. That can’t be Thoros of Myr. Arya remembered the red priest as fat, with a smooth face and a shiny bald head. This man had a droopy face and a full head of shaggy grey hair.
...
“Thoros of Myr. You used to shave your head.”
“To betoken a humble heart, but in truth my heart was vain. Besides, I lost my razor in the woods.” The priest slapped his belly. “I am less than I was, but more. A year in the wild will melt the flesh off a man. Would that I could find a tailor to take in my skin. I might look young again, and pretty maids would shower me with kisses.”

Arya, ASOS
Thoros attributes these changes to his renewed devotion to the Red God and spending "a year in the wild" as above although he is not exactly forthcoming with Arya about the resurrection process. It is also likely that he does not entirely understand what specifically is being exchanged here.
Later he describes Beric giving the "kiss of life" to the corpse of Catelyn Stark:

“The Freys slashed her throat from ear to ear. When we found her by the river she was three days dead. Harwin begged me to give her the kiss of life, but it had been too long. I would not do it, so Lord Beric put his lips to hers instead, and the flame of life passed from him to her. And… she rose. May the Lord of Light protect us. She rose.”

Brienne, AFFC
Notably, this process produces a reanimated Catelyn (a.k.a. Lady Stoneheart). The soul of Beric, or at least whatever is left of his soul at this point in the series, is consumed in order to resurrect Catelyn and not transferred.

6. cold shadows (wild speculation)

The terms "white shadows," "pale shadows," and "cold shadows" are repeated used to describe the Others. The Others are also highly associated with ghosts — the spirits or souls of the dead bound to the earth. (The forrest in which they are introduced is literally called the Haunted Forrest.)

The Others made no sound.
Will saw movement from the corner of his eye. Pale shapes gliding through the wood. He turned his head, glimpsed a white shadow in the darkness. Then it was gone. Branches stirred gently in the wind, scratching at one another with wooden fingers. Will opened his mouth to call down a warning, and the words seemed to freeze in his throat. Perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps it had only been a bird, a reflection on the snow, some trick of the moonlight. What had he seen, after all?
“Will, where are you?” Ser Waymar called up. “Can you see anything?” He was turning in a slow circle, suddenly wary, his sword in hand. He must have felt them, as Will felt them. There was nothing to see. “Answer me! Why is it so cold?” It was cold.
Shivering, Will clung more tightly to his perch. His face pressed hard against the trunk of the sentinel. He could feel the sweet, sticky sap on his cheek. A shadow emerged from the dark of the wood. It stood in front of Royce. Tall, it was, and gaunt and hard as old bones, with flesh pale as milk. Its armor seemed to change color as it moved; here it was white as new-fallen snow, there black as shadow, everywhere dappled with the deep grey-green of the trees. The patterns ran like moonlight on water with every step it took. Will heard the breath go out of Ser Waymar Royce in a long hiss. ...
The Other slid forward on silent feet. In its hand was a longsword like none that Will had ever seen. No human metal had gone into the forging of that blade. It was alive with moonlight, translucent, a shard of crystal so thin that it seemed almost to vanish when seen edge-on. There was a faint blue shimmer to the thing, a ghost-light that played around its edges, and somehow Will knew it was sharper than any razor.

Prologue, AGOT
This is again highly speculative but it seems reasonable to consider that these cold shadows are not "ice demons" or "ice zombies" but are in fact ghosts, the spirits or souls of men that are bound to the earth through magic by the Children of the Forest. (The textual evidence of the creation of the Others by the Children has previously been discussed at length in the community in separate posts.) "Fire consumes, but cold preserves."
This would explain several of the unusual characteristics of the Others described by Tormund:

“Tormund,” Jon said, as they watched four old women pull a cartful of children toward the gate, “tell me of our foe. I would know all there is to know of the Others.”
The wildling rubbed his mouth. “Not here,” he mumbled, “not this side o’ your Wall.” The old man glanced uneasily toward the trees in their white mantles. “They’re never far, you know. They won’t come out by day, not when that old sun’s shining, but don’t think that means they went away. Shadows never go away. Might be you don’t see them, but they’re always clinging to your heels.”
...
Tormund turned back.
"You know nothing. You killed a dead man, aye, I heard. Mance killed a hundred. A man can fight the dead, but when their masters come, when the white mists rise up… how do you fight a mist, crow? Shadows with teeth … air so cold it hurts to breathe, like a knife inside your chest … you do not know, you cannot know … can your sword cut cold?"

Jon, ADWD
A reasonable interpretation of this information is that the Others are present during the day, at least in some capacity, and are only able to assume corporeal form at night.
The Others are also described as "going lightly upon the snow" which would also supports the idea that they are ghosts:

“The white walkers go lightly on the snow,” the ranger said. “You’ll find no prints to mark their passage.”

Samwell, ASOS

7. conclusions

This highly speculative theory attempts to reconcile several seemingly disparate concepts in the series related to magic, namely the actual nature of magical sacrifice ("only death can pay for life") and shadows or shadow magic. More specifically, I suggest that souls are the primary magical currency and can be consumed using fire magic to summon shadows, create glamours, etc. I also speculate that similar processes took place during Mirri Maz Duur's shadow-binding ritual in AGOT and during the repeated resurrections of Berric Dondarrion in ASOS. I further suggest that the Others are ghosts, the spirits or souls of the dead bound to the earth.
EDIT: edited several times to address formatting issues

This is an expansion of a recent post and also incorporates some ideas from this theory (by u/ndependent-Design17). Throughout the series the reader is repeatedly reminded that "only death can pay for life" — that magic, especially powerful magic, comes at great cost.

"Only death can pay for life, my lord. A great gift requires a great sacrifice.”

Davos, ASOS
This phrase or variations of this phrase are repeated by Melisandre, Mirri, etc. at various points throughout the series. That which follows is a highly speculative theory on the nature of the cost of magic in the series. Specifically, that souls are central to the exercise of magic and can be used as magic currency.

1. establishing the concept of the soul

Oh, to be sure, there is much we do not understand. The years pass in their hundreds and their thousands, and what does any man see of life but a few summers, a few winters? We look at mountains and call them eternal, and so they seem… but in the course of time, mountains rise and fall, rivers change their courses, stars fall from the sky, and great cities sink beneath the sea. Even gods die, we think. Everything changes.

Bran, AGOT
What happens after we die? Is there some part of us that lives on or do we simply cease to exist. These are fundamental questions that are essentially unanswerable in life but not in ASOIAF. The reader is given a point-of-view account of death in the prologue of ADWD. After unsuccessfully attempting to steal the body of Thistle, a wildling spearwife, Varamyr dies and briefly becomes a disembodied consciousness:

The white world turned and fell away. For a moment it was as if he were inside the weirwood, gazing out through carved red eyes as a dying man twitched feebly on the ground and a madwoman danced blind and bloody underneath the moon, weeping red tears and ripping at her clothes. Then both were gone and he was rising, melting, his spirit borne on some cold wind. He was in the snow and in the clouds, he was a sparrow, a squirrel, an oak. A horned owl flew silently between his trees, hunting a hare; Varamyr was inside the owl, inside the hare, inside the trees. Deep below the frozen ground, earthworms burrowed blindly in the dark, and he was them as well. I am the wood, and everything that’s in it, he thought, exulting.

Prologue, ADWD
Afterward his "spirit," or soul, is eventually transferred into a body of wolf and he begins his second life. This event, and the process of skin-changing more generally, appears to involve projection or transfer of a soul from one body into another. The process of projecting or transferring souls to either animal vessels or the weirwoods is central to the magic of the Children of the Forest.

“Someone else was in the raven,” he told Lord Brynden, once he had returned to his own skin. “Some girl. I felt her.”
“A woman, of those who sing the song of earth,” his teacher said. “Long dead, yet a part of her remains, just as a part of you would remain in Summer if your boy’s flesh were to die upon the morrow. A shadow on the soul. She will not harm you.”
"Do all the birds have singers in them?"
“All,” Lord Brynden said.

Bran, ADWD
After death a "shadow on the soul" of the Singers remain in the crows. The soul of Orell is also described as living on in the body of his eagle after his death.
This process appears to take two forms: the soul can be temporarily projected from one body into another (e.g., as happens when Bran skin-changes into Hodor) or can be permanently transferred as is described in the separate examples above.
These transferred souls merge with their recipient, at least to some degree, and may decay over time:

"The wolf is part of you from that day on, and you’re part of him. Both of you will change.”
Other beasts were best left alone, the hunter had declared. Cats were vain and cruel, always ready to turn on you. Elk and deer were prey; wear their skins too long, and even the bravest man became a coward. Bears, boars, badgers, weasels … Haggon did not hold with such. “Some skins you never want to wear, boy. You won’t like what you’d become.” Birds were the worst, to hear him tell it. “Men were not meant to leave the earth. Spend too much time in the clouds and you never want to come back down again.
...
"They say you forget," Haggon had told him, a few weeks before his own death.
"When the man's flesh dies, his spirit lives on inside the beast, but every day his memory fades, and the beast becomes a little less a warg, a little more a wolf, until nothing of the man is left and only the beast remains."

Prologue, ADWD
Bran is provided with similar warnings about the danger of spending too much time in Summer's skin by Jojen.

2. shadow magic requires souls

As above the reader is repeatedly reminded throughout the series that "only death can pay for life." What is specifically being sacrificed, though? Is the magic being fueled by the blood of the sacrificed or by something else?
To answer this let us examine one of the most concrete example of magic in the series, the use or exchange of Stannis Baratheon's "life-fire" in order for Melisandre to manifest the shadows used to kill Renly Baratheon and Courtney Penrose.

Shadows only live when given birth by light, and the king's fires burn so low I dare not draw off any more to make another son. It might well kill him."
Melisandre moved closer.
"With another man, though... a man whose flames still burn hot and high... if you truly wish to serve your king's cause, come to my chamber one night. I could give you pleasure such as you have never known, and with your life-fire I could make..."

Davos, ASOS
According to this explanation, the cost of producing these shadow appears to have been part of his "life-fire," or soul. The shadow is specifically described as having the shape Stannis supporting this. Whether this applies to other types of magic — specifically blood magic or fire magic — is less clear but shadow magic very much appears to require the use of souls.
This type of exchange is also directly referenced in the story of the Night's King provided by Old Nan:

A woman was his downfall; a woman glimpsed from atop the Wall, with skin as white as the moon and eyes like blue stars. Fearing nothing, he chased her and caught her and loved her, though her skin was cold as ice, and when he gave his seed to her he gave his soul as well. (Credit to u/DigLost5791 for this reference.)

Bran, ASOS
Stannis is described by Davos afterward as follows:

The look of him was a shock. He seemed ten years older than the man that Davos had left at Storm’s End when he set sail for the Blackwater and the battle that would be their undoing. The king’s close-cropped beard was spiderwebbed with grey hairs, and he had dropped two stone or more of weight. He had never been a fleshy man, but now the bones moved beneath his skin like spears, fighting to cut free. Even his crown seemed too large for his head. His eyes were blue pits lost in deep hollows, and the shape of a skull could be seen beneath his face.

Davos, ASOS
Asha later describes Stannis as appearing life a "man with one foot in the grave."

What little flesh he’d carried on his tall, spare frame at Deepwood Motte had melted away during the march. The shape of his skull could be seen under his skin, and his jaw was clenched so hard Asha feared his teeth might shatter.

Asha, ADWD
These descriptions seem appropriate for a character that has lost part of their "life-fire" or soul.
Throughout the series Stannis is forced to make a series of increasingly difficult decisions. The most significant of these decisions regards the fate of his nephew, Eric Storm. Melisandre repeatedly urges him to "give [her] the boy," presumably to be burned, but is rebuffed by Stannis.

“I know the cost! Last night, gazing into that hearth, I saw things in the flames as well. I saw a king, a crown of fire on his brows, burning… burning, Davos. His own crown consumed his flesh and turned him into ash. Do you think I need Melisandre to tell me what that means? Or you?” The king moved, so his shadow fell upon King’s Landing.
"…what is the life of one bastard boy against a kingdom?”
“Everything,” said Davos, softly.

Davos, ASOS
Is the life of this bastard boy worth the lives of millions that would die if the Others break through the Wall? Making a deal with the devil and literally selling his soul in pursuit of some greater good seems very appropriate for his character, thematically. The description of his flesh turning to ash in this vision is representative also supports this interpretation.

3. blood and fire magic

As opposed to the creation of the shadows described above, we are also provided an example of so-called blood magic in the leech burning ritual.

“Give me the boy, Your Grace. It is the surer way. The better way. Give me the boy and I shall wake the stone dragon.”
...
Melisandre bowed her head stiffly, and said, “As my king commands.” Reaching up her left sleeve with her right hand, she flung a handful of powder into the brazier. The coals roared. As pale flames writhed atop them, the red woman retrieved the silver dish and brought it to the king. Davos watched her lift the lid. Beneath were three large black leeches, fat with blood. The boy’s blood, Davos knew. A king’s blood. Stannis stretched forth a hand, and his fingers closed around one of the leeches.
“Say the name,” Melisandre commanded.

Davos, ASOS
Following this ritual all of the mentioned individuals do die but do so as the part of separate conspiracies (e.g., Robb Stark is betrayed by the Freys and Boltons, Joffrey Baratheon by Littlefinger and the Tyrells, etc.) which were already in place. It is left intentionally ambiguous by the author but it does not appear that the ritual meaningfully contributed to their deaths.
The creation of the shadows is said by Melisandre to have required part of Stannis' "life-fire" or soul. Could it be that the leech burning ritual was unsuccessful because blood alone is not sufficient as a sacrifice?
These forms of magic are frequently described in the community as "shadow magic" and "blood magic." These concepts — "fire and blood" and "flame and shadow" — are highly associated with one another in the text:

“Shadow?" Davos felt his flesh prickling. "A shadow is a thing of darkness."
”You are more ignorant than a child, ser knight. There are no shadows in the dark. Shadows are the servants of light, the children of fire. The brightest flame casts the darkest shadows."

Davos, ACOK
I speculate that these are different expressions of the same concept; that all of these fall under the general umbrella of fire magic and share common principles. "Fire consumes and in the end there's nothing left."

4. dancing shadows

The tent was aglow with the light of braziers within. Through the blood-spattered sandsilk, she glimpsed shadows moving.
Mirri Maz Duur was dancing, and not alone.
...
No, Dany wanted to say, no, not that, you mustn’t, but when she opened her mouth, a long wail of pain escaped, and the sweat broke over her skin. What was wrong with them, couldn’t they see?
Inside the tent the shapes were dancing, circling the brazier and the bloody bath, dark against the sandsilk, and some did not look human. She glimpsed the shadow of a great wolf, and another like a man wreathed in flames.
“The Lamb Woman knows the secrets of the birthing bed,” Irri said. “She said so, I heard her.”
“Yes,” Doreah agreed, “I heard her too.”
No, she shouted, or perhaps she only thought it, for no whisper of sound escaped her lips. She was being carried. Her eyes opened to gaze up at a flat dead sky, black and bleak and starless. Please, no. The sound of Mirri Maz Duur’s voice grew louder, until it filled the world. The shapes! She screamed. The dancers!
Ser Jorah carried her inside the tent.

Daenerys, AGOT
The introduction of shadow magic in the series is provided above with Mirri Max Duur. Following this ritual Drogo is described as a lifeless husk:

"He seems to like the warmth, Princess," Ser Jorah said. "His eyes follow the sun, though he does not see it. He can walk after a fashion. He will go where you lead him, but no farther. He will eat if you put food in his mouth, drink if you dribble water on his lips."

Daenerys, AGOT
It has previously been speculated that Mirri "reverse skin-changed" Drogo (e.g., "strength of the mount go into the rider, strength of the beast go into the man."). The description provided is less consistent with a horse soul inhabiting a human body than it is with the complete or near-complete absence of a soul. It appears more likely in retrospect that Mirri sacrificed part of Drogo's soul to summon the shadows and likely as a means to kill Daenerys' unborn child.

“The stallion who mounts the world will burn no cities now. His khalasar shall trample no nations into dust."

Daenerys, AGOT

5. reanimation

If "only death can pay for life" and souls are used as a form of magical currency how does one explain the reanimation or resurrection process?
There is a paucity of information on the reanimation of the dead in the series. The resurrection of Beric Dondarrion, for example, appears to be different in fundamental ways from that of the wights or Cold Hands. (We are potentially given a point-of-view account of this process if you accept that Victarion died in ADWD.)

“Thoros, how many times have you brought me back now?”
The red priest bowed his head. “It is R’hllor who brings you back, my lord. The Lord of Light. I am only his instrument.”
“How many times?” Lord Beric insisted.
“Six,” Thoros said reluctantly.
“And each time is harder. You have grown reckless, my lord. Is death so very sweet?”
Arya, ASOS

There is no immediately identifiable magical cost for these "kisses of life," at least at first glance. Thoros later tells us that he breathed part of his "flames" or soul into Beric:

“That first time, his lordship had a hole right through him and blood in his mouth, I knew there was no hope. So when his poor torn chest stopped moving, I gave him the good god's own kiss to send him on his way. I filled my mouth with fire and breathed the flames inside him, down his throat to lungs and heart and soul. The last kiss it is called, and many a time I saw the old priests bestow it on the Lord's servants as they died." (Credit to u/watchersontheweb for providing this quote in the initial thread.)

Arya, ASOS
Thoros is also described as appearing very different after performing this ritual several times in a way that is not entirely dissimilar to the changes in Stannis’ appearance referenced above.

“Here’s the wizard, skinny squirrel. You’ll get your answers now.”
He pointed toward the fire, where Tom Sevenstrings stood talking to a tall thin man with oddments of old armor buckled on over his ratty pink robes. That can’t be Thoros of Myr. Arya remembered the red priest as fat, with a smooth face and a shiny bald head. This man had a droopy face and a full head of shaggy grey hair.
...
“Thoros of Myr. You used to shave your head.”
“To betoken a humble heart, but in truth my heart was vain. Besides, I lost my razor in the woods.” The priest slapped his belly. “I am less than I was, but more. A year in the wild will melt the flesh off a man. Would that I could find a tailor to take in my skin. I might look young again, and pretty maids would shower me with kisses.”

Arya, ASOS
Thoros attributes these changes to his renewed devotion to the Red God and spending "a year in the wild" as above although he is not exactly forthcoming with Arya about the resurrection process. It is also likely that he does not entirely understand what specifically is being exchanged here.
Later he describes Beric giving the "kiss of life" to the corpse of Catelyn Stark:

“The Freys slashed her throat from ear to ear. When we found her by the river she was three days dead. Harwin begged me to give her the kiss of life, but it had been too long. I would not do it, so Lord Beric put his lips to hers instead, and the flame of life passed from him to her. And… she rose. May the Lord of Light protect us. She rose.”

Brienne, AFFC
Notably, this process produces a reanimated Catelyn (a.k.a. Lady Stoneheart). The soul of Beric, or at least whatever is left of his soul at this point in the series, is consumed in order to resurrect Catelyn and not transferred.

6. cold shadows (wild speculation)

The terms "white shadows," "pale shadows," and "cold shadows" are repeated used to describe the Others. The Others are also highly associated with ghosts — the spirits or souls of the dead bound to the earth. (The forrest in which they are introduced is literally called the Haunted Forrest.)

The Others made no sound.
Will saw movement from the corner of his eye. Pale shapes gliding through the wood. He turned his head, glimpsed a white shadow in the darkness. Then it was gone. Branches stirred gently in the wind, scratching at one another with wooden fingers. Will opened his mouth to call down a warning, and the words seemed to freeze in his throat. Perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps it had only been a bird, a reflection on the snow, some trick of the moonlight. What had he seen, after all?
“Will, where are you?” Ser Waymar called up. “Can you see anything?” He was turning in a slow circle, suddenly wary, his sword in hand. He must have felt them, as Will felt them. There was nothing to see. “Answer me! Why is it so cold?” It was cold.
Shivering, Will clung more tightly to his perch. His face pressed hard against the trunk of the sentinel. He could feel the sweet, sticky sap on his cheek. A shadow emerged from the dark of the wood. It stood in front of Royce. Tall, it was, and gaunt and hard as old bones, with flesh pale as milk. Its armor seemed to change color as it moved; here it was white as new-fallen snow, there black as shadow, everywhere dappled with the deep grey-green of the trees. The patterns ran like moonlight on water with every step it took. Will heard the breath go out of Ser Waymar Royce in a long hiss. ...
The Other slid forward on silent feet. In its hand was a longsword like none that Will had ever seen. No human metal had gone into the forging of that blade. It was alive with moonlight, translucent, a shard of crystal so thin that it seemed almost to vanish when seen edge-on. There was a faint blue shimmer to the thing, a ghost-light that played around its edges, and somehow Will knew it was sharper than any razor.

Prologue, AGOT
This is again highly speculative but it seems reasonable to consider that these cold shadows are not "ice demons" or "ice zombies" but are in fact ghosts, the spirits or souls of men that are bound to the earth through magic by the Children of the Forest. (The textual evidence of the creation of the Others by the Children is linked in a separate post here.) "Fire consumes, but cold preserves."
This would explain several of the unusual characteristics of the Others described by Tormund:

“Tormund,” Jon said, as they watched four old women pull a cartful of children toward the gate, “tell me of our foe. I would know all there is to know of the Others.”
The wildling rubbed his mouth. “Not here,” he mumbled, “not this side o’ your Wall.” The old man glanced uneasily toward the trees in their white mantles. “They’re never far, you know. They won’t come out by day, not when that old sun’s shining, but don’t think that means they went away. Shadows never go away. Might be you don’t see them, but they’re always clinging to your heels.”
...
Tormund turned back.
"You know nothing. You killed a dead man, aye, I heard. Mance killed a hundred. A man can fight the dead, but when their masters come, when the white mists rise up… how do you fight a mist, crow? Shadows with teeth … air so cold it hurts to breathe, like a knife inside your chest … you do not know, you cannot know … can your sword cut cold?"

Jon, ADWD
A reasonable interpretation of this information is that the Others are present during the day, at least in some capacity, and are only able to assume corporeal form at night.
The Others are also described as "going lightly upon the snow" which would also supports the idea that they are ghosts:

“The white walkers go lightly on the snow,” the ranger said. “You’ll find no prints to mark their passage.”

Samwell, ASOS

7. conclusions

This highly speculative theory attempts to reconcile several seemingly disparate concepts in the series related to magic, namely the actual nature of magical sacrifice ("only death can pay for life") and shadows or shadow magic. More specifically, I suggest that souls are the primary magical currency and can be consumed using fire magic to summon shadows, create glamours, etc. I also speculate that similar processes took place during Mirri Maz Duur's shadow-binding ritual in AGOT and during the repeated resurrections of Berric Dondarrion in ASOS. I further suggest that the Others are ghosts, the spirits or souls of the dead bound to the earth.
EDIT: edited several times to address formatting issues

This conlang isn’t necessarily about English evolving the same as German, but more like if it evolved to appear more German/Dutch/Frisian
——————————————— Phonology
Consonants

 Labial Alveolar Post-Alveolar Dorsal Glottal 

Plosive p b t d k g Africative tʃ dʒ Fricative f v s z ʃ ʝ χ h Nasal m n ŋ Approx. l j Rhotic r

• Old English [θ] and [ð] turned into [t] and [d] respectively, resulting in words like ‘tief’ and ‘odder’, instead of thief and other
• Old English [ɣ], rather than being vocalized to [u] in the Middle English period, was vocalized to [x] and later [χ]. Thereby turning words like boga into boghe, rather than bow
• In a few isolated scenarios, Old English palatalized consonants such as [ʝ], [tʃ], [dʒ] and [ʃ] could be de-palatalized. Examples of which is the suffix ge-, which in old English was prononunced as [je]-. Though keep in mind this change was rare and followed no patterns
• Anglisc preserves the Old English [ʝ], which in this TL doesn’t merge with [j]
• During the Middle English period, the dialects of Kent and Wessex, the most influential of dialects, had the phonemes [f] and [s] be voiced in the beginning of words. Later, once the capital shifted from Winchester to London, the Wessex dialects clashed with the Anglo-Norse dialects of the Eastern Midlands, which land to many West-Saxon words being dropped from standard English. However, many words from the once prestigious dialect remained in the London standard, resulting in words like zunne, rather than the expected sunne, for Sun.
• Old English [w] was first turned into [ʋ] before merging with [v]
• Initial [h] before a consonant was dropped in all cases

Vowels

 Front Central Back unr. roun. 

Close i iː y uː Clo.Mi. ɪ ʏ ʊ Mid ɛ ə ɔ Open a ɑː
Diphthongs aɪ - aʊ - aʏ - eɪ - eʊ - oʊ - øʏ - iʊ

• Anglisc preserved Old English [y] and raised it to [ʏ], with [y] being the open-vowel quality
• Much like their Continental cousins, Anglisc preserves final [ə]
• Anglisc’s open vowel lengthening also occurred much like in German and Dutch
• Anglisc’s great vowel shift was much closer to the phenomenon that occurred in the other West-Germanic languages, [iː, yː and uː] became [aɪ, aʏ and aʊ] if not followed by r, [eː and oː] became [iː and uː] and [ɛː, ɔː and øː] became [eɪ, oʊ and øʏ] also if not followed by r
• Old English [ɑː], when not followed by [r], [h], [w], or was in the final word position, diphthongized to [aɪ], later merging with [aɪ] from [iː]. In other scenarios [ɑː] became [ɔː] and later [oʊ]
• Old English [æː] was also opened to [aː] as [ɑː] shifted to [aɪ] and [oʊ]. Resulting in words like saad, rather than seed
• Old English [æːɑ], if not followed by [r], [h], or a dental, became [ɛɔ] and later [eʊ], not to be confused with Old English [ew]/[eːw], which became [iʊ], in the remaining cases, it became [eɪ]
• Anglisc preserves the Northumbrian [øː] which indicated umlauted [o] rather than the West Saxon [eː]
• Anglisc lacks vowel lengthening before [ld], [mb], [nd] and [rd]
• Anglisc also lacks vowel shortening after three consonants. For instance ‘faiftien’ rather than ‘fiftien’
• Lastly, Anglisc also lacks the vowel diphthongization before [x] that happened in Middle English. Thus, toght rather than thought

——————————————— Morphology
Anglisc, much like German, is a language rich in inflections and gender, preserving the inflections of the traditionally conservative Wessex and Kentish dialects. In total, Anglisc has 4 cases: nominative, accusative, genitive and dative. Simultaneously it has 3 genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. As well as 2 numbers: singular and plural.
Declension of Anglisc: te (the)

 Mascul. Femin. Neuter Plural 

Nomina. te tee tatt to Accusa. tonn to tatt to Genitive tass taar tass toor Dative tom taar tom tom
——————————————— Verb Inflections
Again, much like German, and again, drawing from Wessex and Kent, Anglisc preserved its verbal conjugations while it disappeared in other dialects
Conjugation of Anglisc: bien (to be)

 Present Tense Past Tense 

1st Per. Sin. bie wass 2nd Per. Sin. bist were 3rd Per. Sin. bitt wass Sub. Sin. bie were Imp. Sin. bie ——— Plural bien weren Sub. Plu. bien weren Imp. Plu. biet ——— Participles bieing gebien
——————————————— Orthography
Anglisc orthography has gone through many reforms throughout its time. However, many archaic features are still present, which may lead some people to despise yet. But these cases are much rarer than in other languages, making the situation a little better
Short vowels - [a] - back [bak] > back - [ɛ] - feld [fɛlt] > field <-e>/<-eC#> - [ə] - leupen [leʊ.pən] > to leap - [ɪ] - ting [tɪŋ] > thing - [ɔ] - Godd [gɔt] > God - [ʊ] - wulf [vʊlf] > wolf - [ʏ] - lyft [lʏft] > air
Open Vowels - [ɑː] - name [nɑː.mə] > name - [eɪ] - breken [breɪ.kən] > to break - [i] - wik [vik] > weak - [oʊ] - hope [hoʊ.pə] > hope - [uː] - wud [vuːt] > wood - [y] - bryn [bryn] > fire/burning
Diphthongs - [aɪ] - scain [ʃaɪn] > shine - [aʊ] - haus [haʊs] > house - [aʏ] - fayr [faʏr] > fire - [eʊ] - eugh [eʊχ] > eye - [iʊ] - niu [niʊ] > new - [øʏ] - foet [føʏt] > feet
Long Vowels - [uː] - gud [guːt] > good - [iː] - hier [hiːr] > here
Consonants - [b]/[p] - beum [beʊm] > beam/tree - [k] used before a,o,u and consonants - cumen [kʊ.mən] > to come - [k] - kicken [kɪ.kən] > to kick <ċ> - [tʃ] - ċild [tʃɪlt] > child <ċg> - [dʒ] - briċg [brɪdʒ] > bridge - [d]/[t] - daġ [daʝ] > day - [f] - coen [køʏn] > keen/bold - [g]/[k] - gat [gɑːt] > gate - [χ] - bargh [barχ] > mountain <ġ> - [ʝ] - ġelpen [ʝεl.pən] > to yelp - [h] - haim [haɪm] > home -[j] - jar [jɑːr] - [k] used before e,i,y - kyċċen - [l] - lamm [lam] > lamb - [m] - monet [moʊ.nət] > month - [n] - naght [naχt] > night - [ŋ] - ring [rɪŋ] > ring - [ŋk] - tanken [taŋ.kən] > to thank - [p] - paip [paɪp] > pipe - [r] - rad [rɑːt] > council/advice - [s]/[z] - singer [sɪŋ.ər] > singer - [ʃ] - trasc [traʃ] > trash - [t] - taid [taɪt] > time - [v] - grave [grɑː.və] > grave - [v] - water [vɑː.tər] > water - [ks] - axe [ak.sə] > axe - [z] - zunne [zʊ.nə] > Sun
——————————————— Sample Text
Ang. Alle Mensce bien frie and gelaik in werthaid and righten geboren. Hie bien mid toght and gewiten begiften, and scolden elkodder in ain gaist of bruderhaid behaven.
[alə 'mεnʃə biːn 'friː ant 'gə.laɪk in 'vεrt.haɪt ant 'rɪχ.tən gə.'boʊrən] [hiː biːn mɪt tɔχt ant gə.'vɪtən bə.'gɪftən ant ʃɔldən εl.kɔdər ɪn aɪn 'gaɪst ɔf 'bruːdər.haɪt bə.'hɑːvən]
Eng. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Ger. Alle Menschen sind frei und gleich an Würde und Rechten geboren. Sie sind mit Vernunft und Gewissen begabt und sollen einander im Geist der Brüderlichkeit begegnen.
Dutch. Alle mensen worden vrij en gelijk in waardigheid en rechten geboren. Zij zijn begiftigd met verstand en geweten, en behoren zich jegens elkander in een geest van broederschap te gedragen.