Chikurry: The Resplendent Foliage of Gnatted Hollow

Transit

Gnatted Hollow resides on the northern edge of the Forest of Pich, the largest forest in Chikurry. Access from Urdahl is easy; the usual methods of transit apply, though chartering space on a carriage or bus is the most reliable and cost-effective method.

My favorite method of transit is purchasing a ticket for the Longgaff Ferry out of Braghest. The price should range only from 20 to 30 lap, with round ticket prices being around 40. The journey takes about twelve hours, with food and drink available for purchase. The Longgaff ferry takes after the Gaff sense of hospitality, and there will be plenty of relatively comfortable bunks for travelers to rest in.

The central room in the ferry will likely be fairly full of travelers, assuming you are not traveling in the off-season. Get used to the idea that people you have never met will speak to you in a language you have never heard, as casual familiarity is common in Gaff

Chartered two-seater planes sometimes make the trip to Braghest, but these are largely single-person operations. Interested parties should speak with knowledgeable travel agents to find a suitable and reputable pilot.

The Place

It is difficult to explain the Resplendent Foliage to any one who hasn’t seen it for themselves. Many travel-guides and tourist-books tend to overlook the simpler and natural majesties of the world: John Nye’s 20 More Wonders of the World is notable for its inclusion of the Whistling Gorge. There is a trend for lovers of the aesthetic to favor constructions and structures made by humans, when some of the most spectacular and fantastic beauty can be found in nature.

Lovers of leaf peeping will find the Forests of Pich something of a marvel. While none of the indigenous trees are evergreens, neither are they deciduous as they keep their leaves for the entire year while their colors change throughout the seasons.

The least impressive or interesting of these — at least for the non-botanist — is in November or December, when the leaves retain a vibrant shade of healthy green. Early in the year, however — January to March — the leaves begin their long kaleidoscopic journey through the seasons.

The first change is a shift from deep green to a lighter blue color, blending with the ice and snows to create a stunning picture of frozen beauty. This blue can even become iridescent at the height of its color, making a simple winter wind a dazzling display of breath-taking quality.

As Spring approaches, from March to April, the blue fades to a deep purple, nearly black. The iridescent nature of the leaves sometimes remains for a time, before entire trees become laden with a thick velvety black. During this time, the leaves also gain a thick coating of epicuticular wax with a peculiar chemical structure that refracts light like a prism. By mid-April, the leaves take on the luster and colorful shimmer of black opal.

This doesn’t last long, however, as between April and May, the black quickly burns away, leaving a rainbow of dark reds and oranges. This begins at the outer edges of the leaves and moves inwards, giving the leaves the look of bright flames surrounding a thin strip of coal. At peak color, the trees have all the appearance of a raging forest-fire, with tongues of flame dancing in the breeze.

From May to July, the red and oranges will lighten to yellows and rich browns. The leaves lose the last of their waxy sheaths, and become thin and delicate. Some of the iridescence returns at this time, and the lightness of the leaves make even subtle summer breezes extravagant displays of glittering gold. It is this season that was captured in Von Throwlony’s famous painting, Trees in June.

August to October sees the leaves change from their bright yellows and browns to a richer and more striking lavender. The leaves begin to thicken and gradually deepen their color through the months until the forests are filled with deep indigos mixed with more pastel purples. Interestingly, it is this time that sees the forests with the most variance in color, giving the forest a remarkable texture.

From October to November, the leaves begin their slow transition back to the verdant green most leaves are known for. The inner cores change first, creeping outwards towards the edge and ultimately bathing the forests in a deep green just in time for the first snows.

When I first visited Gnatted Hollow, I had intended to only stay for a few days. I ended up staying for two months, soaking in the local colors and culture. It is good to slow down, sometimes, and there are remarkable places in nature to help us do so. Gnatted Hollow is a wonderfully pastoral place, and the wondrous trees in the Forests of Pich are one of the finest opportunities to breathe and take stock of the world around us.

There are many reasons why I decided to put Gnatted Hollow in this book. First and foremost, Gnatted Hollow has largely resisted the industrialization of their natural beauty, and so the Forests of Pich remain lush and vibrant. Likewise, while there are several towns with suitable access to the Forests of Pich, Gnatted Hollow is still a largely unknown destination; visitors will not need to deal with large crowds or handle difficult transit methods to get where they wish to go.

But for all my reasons, the Resplendent Foliage of Gnatted Hollow is the perfect place to visit for those who are on a budget, unfamiliar with travel to fantastical lands, or need little in the way of amenities. Largely a destination for nature-lovers, Gnatted Hollow is a rustic community outside the county Gaff on the eastern side of Chikurry, known for its remarkable flora.

After spending so long with the people of Gnatted Hollow, I can safely say that the people of Gaff are some of the gentlest and kindest people in all the world. Not once did I feel anything but welcome in their pleasant and pastoral homeland.

All the same, what amounts to a Downtown in Gnatted Hollow is little more than a tiny town-hall and a few local ma-and-pa stores. The best of local culture can be sampled in the nearby town of Braghest, and after a short time in Gnatted Hollow I spent most of my days there, learning more about this incredible county.

The Forests of Gnatted Hollow are difficult to miss. The edges of the forest are easily visible from the edges of town, and many nature-walks and paths are only half an hour away by foot.

The tourist industry is still in its infancy in Gnatted Hollow, and so there aren’t many tour-groups or guides available for hire. The most polished¹ is certainly Forest Walk, which has both personal guides and group tours available at reasonable prices.

Group Tours range from 100 to 150 lap, depending on party size, and will likely provide good spots for pictures and attractive vistas. If you are more of an explorer or a do-it-yourselfer, the personal guide is the way to go. Groups sizes are limited, but they know the area well and provide more freedom for those who are more inclined to travel off the beaten path.

Be aware that Gaff culture does not include tipping, and guides may view the offering of money as insulting.

Accommodations

Gaff is a smaller county, with a population of only 14,000. The people are friendly and welcoming to tourists, having recently realized its potential as a tourists hot-spot. It has its own currency, called the Lap, which tourists should exchange their money for as soon as they arrive. When I visited last, the local exchanges only took kroner, but they have recently begun to take euros and US dollars as well.

Gnatted Hollow itself is still discovering its tourist potential, so its hotel options are limited. If you wish to stay in Gnatted Hollow, you would be wise to either book a room well in advance in one of the two local Hotels, the Traveler’s Stop or the Seventh Room.

The Traveler’s Stop is a spartan affair, that aims to provide comfort at a low price. The rooms are clean and cozy, primarily designed to offer a place for travelers to sleep, shower, and not much else. The Traveler’s Stop doesn’t have kitchens or a pool, and only one laundry room is available on request. While this setup may seem unwelcoming, I spoke with the owner who told me she didn’t want tourists to waste time indoors. She had traveled a bit before and didn’t appreciate hotels that thought they needed to be part of the vacation. Her pricing reflects this, as renting a room for a week costs only 20 lap.

The Seventh Room is far more expensive and lavish, with rooms costing anywhere from 50 lap a night to 300 lap a week. The rooms are larger and there are more services provided, such as meals, on-site laundry, a small bar/café, and pay-per-view television. The rooms themselves are large and well furnished, and worth their large price.

One alternative is to rent a room in the larger nearby town of Braghest and commute from there to Gnatted Hollow during the day. This is not very difficult, as the Wagnet Bus makes several trips from Braghest to Gnatted Hollow every day. The Wagnet costs only 10 lap for a single trip, or 30 Wagnet for a day-pass. Week-passes are not purchasable on the bus, but are available at any of the stations around Braghest for 50 lap. This is an excellent deal for those who are planning a longer stay.

Braghest itself is an excellent place for shopping and local cuisine. If you have the time, be sure to allot at least one day for visiting the commercial district, and be sure to try at least one of the many street-food vendors.

Things to do

Daytime

As is the case with almost every place in Chikurry, one of the best ways you can spend your time is sampling the local cuisine. Apart from eating and hiking the forest, there isn’t much of unique interest in Gnatted Hollow. While there are several stores tourists will enjoy shopping at, Gnatted Hollow has generally avoided gauche tourist traps.

The staples of the Gaff diet include meats and fish, grains, and local fruit. The regional specialty is called wan kriinak, translated as “fresh eats.” Fresh eats is the term for a three-course dish of a thick stew of greens, roasted meat, and a bowl of nuts and soft roots. Almost every café or restaurant serves its own recipe of fresh eats, using different blends of greens, meats, or nuts. Note that the meat in traditional wan kriinak is a local forest rodent akin to rat. Nowadays, most restaurants provide substitutions, so be sure to ask what ingredients the chef is using.

If you want “real” fresh eats, you want to look for the Cloud Café on the southern side of Windway street. Owned and operated by a lovely pair of lads who traveled extensively for their recipes, the Cloud Café has the largest selection of authentically prepared Gaff cuisine in all of Chikurry.

Street vending is not uncommon in Gaff, and a great deal of fried meats and stews can be found while walking down the streets of Braghest. Esskh is perhaps the most common, being a mixure of cooked rice and egg, seasoned with savory herbs. It is generally served for breakfasts or light meals, but variants made with bird-meat or charred fish are now served for larger meals. These variants are sometimes called Mut-Esskh, so if you are hoping for a full meal, make sure you ask for Mut-Esskh

Also, be aware that the Gaff do not naturally eat and drink at the same time. If you plan on eating and drinking in a single meal, you will have to specifically request a glass of water or pint of ale. As a corillary, the local spirit is called Jhaam, and it is considerably stronger than its taste may suggest. Drink carefully!

For dessert, Tullo Tul’s is a small bistro off the main road in Braghest that has become famous for its homemade ice-creams and jellies. Its fame has made it difficult to experience, as they refuse to expand their operation. This means you will likely have to wait in a long line before you can purchase a cone, cup, or jar. All the same, Tullo Tul’s is famous for a reason, and it’s well worth the wait if you can spare the time.

In Gnatted Hollow itself, the best place to eat is The Short Toss Deli, which has some of the best sandwiches and hearty soups I’ve ever tasted. Be sure to ask for extra yellow-sauce, as it will vanish quickly!

If you travel during the cooler months, see if you can visit Gnatted Hollow during a night when the town serves Yup-Wak. Sometimes translated as “Full-Cauldron,” the term Yup-Wak is more literally translated as “satiated cooking-stomach,” or perhaps “not-hungry bowl.” The word wak is difficult to translate, as while it obviously references large cooking pots, it is also used to describe anything that holds food. Waterskins, pots, pans, dumplings, sausage-casings, and stomachs can all be referred to as kinds of wak, and some scholars wonder if this was a kind of cultural joke that got out of hand.

Related to the “hot-pot” tradition in some countries, a true Yup-Wak is a large cauldron set up in a wide-open space, usually near the town square. At the beginning of the day, a large fire is lit, and a simple broth is made to simmer. At the end of the day the simmer is brought to a boil, and a massive ceremony is held. People bring their own baskets of raw food, which is cooked one bite at a time in the large pot. Keeping track of which bite is yours is considered impolite, as the true purpose of a Yup-Wak is to bring everyone in the town together for a feast. As the individual pieces of food are cooked the broth becomes richer, taking on the flavors of everything that is cooked within it. Thick creams and sauces are sometimes used after a bite is retrieved from the pot, and only thin light beverages are served, such as dry ciders and crisp wines.

Lettuce leaves and thick slabs of rye-like bread are used similar to plates, while the preferred utensils are ptori and broth-spoons.

Evening

Nightlife in the pastoral Gnatted Hollow is largely composed of fireflies and owls. Evening walks along the forest edge are not uncommon, and the regional habit of Evening Tea — a gentle herbal drink just at or before sundown — are largely the only activity that occurs after dinner.

Braghest, on the other hand, has two prominent night-club/bars that cater to the nocturnal among us. The Slivermoon — that’s “sliver,” not silver — sits in the middle of town, and remains open until 2:00 am. Night music and dancing wile away the hours with good drinks and large portions of fried and starchy foods. I heartily recommend the tluush, a fried bread snack-dish that is filling and tasty.

The Pooltzh, or “drinks cabinet,” is a somewhat quieter affair on the northern side of the city. The bar remains open at all hours, but there is no space for dancing. Indeed, after 3:00 am, very few patrons remain, save those who crave a quiet atmosphere. This is not to say that there is no time or place for parties, as from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am the ale flows freely and the drinking songs are boisterous.

Apart from these two locals, there are a smattering of late-night cafés. Of particular note is Harvy’s Cup, a small café that has some of the best house-made wine I have ever tasted. Their house green-tea blend is also quite refreshing, and worth a try as an evening’s dessert.