 | Your questions answered!
Read the answers to the most commonly asked Neopets questions this week in the Editorial section. Each week the most popular questions will be answered by one of the creators of Neopets, so keep checking back to stay updated.
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Quote of the Week
The Lutari’s stoic expression suddenly exploded into a grin a mile wide, and they jumped up and down with glee, creating little clouds of sand that rose from their feet.
A Vendor’s Guide to Beachside Sales, Sand, & Survival
The following guide was recorded by an Island Vandagyre, Cora Lowena, a Licensed Beach Vendor on Mystery Island. For aspiring vendors for the upcoming summer season. During the summer months on Mystery Island, tourist activity increases significantly. From the long lines at Tombola to the questionable concoctions created at the Cooking Pot, there are many attractions that Neopians indulge in. I am here to remind you that even though they are here to “relax,” commerce does not stop. Following this guide will ensure you are well prepared for the influx of tourists looking to spend their Neopoints on interesting and one-of-a-kind wares—items only you can provide. On Setting Up a Proper Stall A successful day of sales—and an unsuccessful one—often boils down to location. Placement on the beach matters. With daily setup, you will quickly learn which areas of the beach work best for both you and your customers. However, there are some general notes I would adhere to: - While setting up close to the water sounds like a great idea to catch Neopians having fun, a rogue wave (or an overconfident Jetsam) will surely strike during the day, which will result in loss of inventory and possibly the Neopoints you made. - Setting up further inland might protect you from pesky sand particles and Neopians dripping water onto your product, but it doesn’t protect you from... |
Ten Essentials to Bring to the Beach for Beach Day!
As the weather warms up, it’s great this time of year to take a trip to the beach in Mystery Island. All of Neopia is excited to tan by the sun, swim in the water, collect seashells, build sandcastles and more! Here at the Neopian Times, we want to make sure all our readers are prepared with the essentials to ensure the best time in the sun.
# 10 - Plain Black Sunglasses
This essential item will help your eyes no matter how many rays are shining. You won’t have trouble getting around the beach or having fun with your Neopets and fellow Neopians. While these may have “plain” in the name, they get the job done. These sunglasses continue to be elegant but are the epitome of classic style, and are something you absolutely need to remember to pack for your trip! You can find them on the shop wizard, trading post or at Uni’s Clothing Shop for a very affordable price.
# 9 - Comfy Beach Chair
How would one go on a relaxing beach day without having a place to sit back and relax? A Comfy Beach Chair is important to make sure you make the most of your day in the sun. You can sit back, close your eyes and talk to friends by the water, feeling the nice breeze of the water. The material in this specific chair will make you feel right at home and is sturdy enough to last several beach trips! You can obtain this item via the trading post, shop wizard or a lucky spin with Trudy’s Surprise will give you this prize. |
 | A Castle Planner's Guide to Sand Castles
Hello kids!
You have joined me on the shores of Meridell for a quick lesson in castle architecture, taught by yours truly, the Castle Planner for Meridell Castle, Gaius Gallius! Now if I know anything as an architect, it’s castles, and if I know anything as a Bori, it’s digging and sand. So I don’t think you will find a better teacher on this subject.
Here in Meridell, we have long been near the coast line, which has been a crucial part of our kingdoms nautical history, especially in our trad- Oh sorry I’m rambling. You kids are here for sand castles, not history! I suppose we will start with our first step. Take your bucket, and let's go to the water, and fill it up. Be careful, let the waves come to you, lest the waves carry you away!
Now that we have our bucket of water, consult your handy Kreludor moon chart to know what time the tides are! What do you mean you don’t have one? Okay fine, you can borrow mine. Just know that the best time to build is as the tides are going out to low tide, otherwise later on you will be playing Castle Defender against the natural force of water… and let me tell you, ‘Water always wins.’
Pick a clear spot with compacted sand that has been smoothed out by the waves, but has become dry on the surface. Go ahead and use your shovel to dig a small hole. It should be wet a couple inches below the surface! That’s the ideal place to find your castle! Wet the sand with the water from your bucket so it’s easy to work with. Next we are going to go over a few terms for things our castle should have as we add them! |
| Other Stories |
"The Beach Guardian" by hfallyn
”Your face is going to get stuck like that,” Azisam teased as he gently nudged his younger brother with his elbow. Blumrah rolled his eyes before turning his attention to an abandoned Neocola can half-buried beneath the sand. The Water Blumaroo retrieved the debris with his Grarrl Grabber before shoving it into his bag. “Yes, I remember you scaring me with threats like that when we were kids.” Azisam, a Woodland Blumaroo, chuckled as the pair continued down the beach. He speared a discarded tube of 30 proof Kacheek Sun Screen with his own makeshift rubbish collector, his trusty Enchanted Wizard Mushroom Staff. “So, your shift ended thirty minutes ago. How long do you typically stick around to clean up the beach?” “As long as it takes,” Blumrah answered with a shrug before the two carried on in silence. The truth was, some days, particularly during this time of year, it would take Blumrah hours to clean the beach. From the end of the Month of Hunting through the beginning of the Month of Gathering, Roo Island’s shores were swarming with an influx of visitors. Neopians often travelled from the Lost Desert, looking for a refreshing, coastal community or descended from Terror Mountain, eager to warm up their chilled bones. Blumrah had complicated feelings when it came to off-islanders. He worked as a lifeguard at Roo Island’s main beach, located right off its central pier. He spent all day patrolling the shoreline and protecting his fellow Neopians. He loved his job and truly cared for the souls he guarded. But oftentimes, that care felt like a one-way street. Vacationers gave no thought to the land or locals: out-of-sight, out-of-mind, and these shores would soon... |
"A Coconut JubJub Finds Meaning on Mystery Island" by sockies
The sand felt soft under her feet, yet not as soft as what she had previously imagined. At least the view was mesmerising. Yes, there was something captivating about the seemingly endless water that stretched out to touch the horizon. Kiki had never seen anything like it and could only imagine what sorts of things lived in the water. She had heard about Maraqua and Maraquan Neopets, but she had never seen a Maraquan Neopet or met anybody who had been to Maraqua.
"If only I could dive," she thought. Diving underwater and swimming to Maraqua seemed like a plausible idea for the average Neopet, but not for a Coconut JubJub like Kiki. Growing up, Kiki had often found that being a coconut has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is that it is impossible to dive underwater. Coconuts are less dense than water, so no matter how hard you kick, you always float to the top.
She walked up to where the waves hit the beach and let the water tickle her feet. "Maybe someday I can afford a submarine and visit Maraqua," she thought. Kiki suddenly realised that she had been staring at the water for a few minutes. She blinked her eyes away from the water and turned around to walk back up the sandy beach. She needed to stop thinking about Maraqua and focus. She had come to Mystery Island for a reason. Specifically, Kiki was trying to connect with her past and discover herself.
Kiki had moved to Tyrannia at a really young age and did not remember anything about her first few years of life on Mystery Island. As much as she did not mind living in Tyrannia, she had never felt like she fully fit in there. On a spontaneous decision, she nearly spent all her Neopoints on a ticket to Mystery Island, the land of coconuts. |
"Mynci’s Beach: Sand, Sun, and Second Chances" by kindnessx
The sun rose over the shoreline of Mystery Island, spilling warm light across the sand where laughter was already beginning to echo. It was the kind of morning that felt made for games. It was warm out, felt breezy, and humming with excitement.
A colourful banner stretched between two palm trees read: “Mynci Beach Volleyball Tournament!”
Neopets of all kinds had gathered around, forming small groups along the shore. Some were stretching, and others practising serves. The waves rolled in with a relaxing sound.
“Alright, teams!” Called out a Yellow Mynci named Tiki. He had taken it upon himself to organise the event. He stood on top of a driftwood log and announced, “Let’s keep things friendly but competitive!”
A Red Shoyru named Lisa stretched her wings and smiled. “Friendly is my middle name,” she said.
“That’s not even true,” muttered a Green Aisha named Stella, who happened to be a teammate. “You cried last time you lost,” she said while adjusting her headband.
“I did not cry,” Lisa shot back. “I simply expressed disappointment.” Nearby, a group of Kacheeks were giggling. The teams started to quickly form. There were players who played seasonally, and then others who had only just begun playing for the first time. Nobody really cared about skill level because it was all about fun.
Sidney, a Blue Gelert, hovered near the edge of the group. He wasn’t sure how he ended up here. He’d only meant to walk along the beach and collect shells. Somehow, he’d been swept into a team with Lisa and Stella.
“You’ll do great.” Stella told him, “Just hit the ball over the net, and that is as simple as it gets.”
“That’s good to know. Thank you.” Sidney replied.
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