TamaraBrooks.com

Count Down To Bali :: Hotel & Trip Planning

Ok, Bali is just 10 weeks away so I've started looked at a few hotels to stay at.

I've discovered that this website (Asiarooms.com) allows you to book hotel rooms for cheaper than the posted price on the actual hotel websites.

I've found some that look pretty good and are relatively cheap. In the coming weeks I'll be cross referencing them with the Bali & Lombok Lonely Planet Travel Guide. However we'll probably be booking the Aneka Hotel in Kuta Beach Bali for the first 3 days. It's just $33 a night!! But, if you're booking this hotel, book with http://www.asiarooms.com because it's cheaper** all prices are in US $, but $33 US is $33.80 CDN

Vancouver's India Gate Restaurant Review (2008)

My husband and I did date night yesterday. We used the India Gate 50$ gift certificate I won in the World Red Cross Celebrity Soiree a few months back at the Blue Water Cafe in Yaletown.

Judging by the outside (see the picture above) I wasn't expecting all that much. It was a bit dingy on the inside too which sealed the deal in my mind as I entered. Boy, was I wrong!

Food was phenomenal. I had the vegetarian Bhartha dish (eggplant) with rice and the best garlic butter nan you've had in your entire life. It was totally yummy (as long as we're clear here, it wasn't healthy at all). My husband had the lamb curry which was yogurt, spices and tomatoes. Delicious and basically a lamb gravy sauce! It's a little on the expensive side for portion size but the sheer taste value put it through the roof for me.

Sex and the City Jason Lewis (Smith) at Ceili's Irish Pub Thursday

Remember the hottie from Sex in the City? Samatha's boyfriend Smith? (Jason Lewis) AKA Smith?
Well, he'll be at Ceili's Irish Pub in downtown Vancouver on Thursday night.

Infact, with your 35$ ticket you get to meet him in real life!

Thursday July 17th, 2008 (Doors open at 7pm)
Dress up like your favorite Sex in the City character and win designer handbags, shoes and accessories from the movie!/>

Fundraising Idea: Drink for the cure!

If you didn't know, I'm currently fundraising for my CIBC Run for the Cure breast cancer goal of $1,500! I have a little way to go (so any donations help.. even 5$) but I have an excellent fundraiser going on this Friday which should nicely increase my total.

Stella Artois presents DJ AM - Wednesday July 23rd in Vancouver

Stella Artois & Donnelly Nightclubs present:
DJ AM (Deckstar, L.A.) with
Zak Santiago & Matty C
Marlon J English & P.Love (patio)
www.djam.com
www.myspace.com/djamone

WHEN? Wednesday July 23rd
WHERE? Republic
WHAT? Stella Artois Legere and Stella Artois bottles $4.75
TIME? 10pm-3am

Stella Artois Legere and Donnelly Nightclubs are proud to present America’s #1 DJ AM. Whether it’s in the pages of a magazine or behind the decks at America’s premiere nightclubs, DJ AM is the most recognised face in clubbing today. From high profile appearances in LA, NY, Las Vegas and Miami to the underground of the thriving electro scene, AM’s mind-blowing, genre-spanning party-rocking sets have established him as the most sought after DJ in the world – come celebrate with DJ AM as we launch Stella Artois Legere – “remarkably light!”.

NKOTB Summertime Video

PS. Is anyone getting a little gay vibe from Jordan or is it just me? He seems disinterested in his 20-something gal.

Mr. Mayer's - Where the Light is (Live in L.A)

I have a strange affliction with John Mayer. At the start I didn't like him. I didn't get the music and I just wasn't that into him. I kind of saw him as a cheezier, more main stream and slightly less talented Jack Johnson. (Ok, even I'll admit the boy has some guitar skillz). But, Mr. Mayer found himself in the media spotlight more and more. I couldn't help but find his cheeky boyish charm and witty interactions with the paparazzi intriguing.

Let's BLOG it out.. HBO's Entourage back for a 5th season?

Too many contrasting blog posts out there on if Entourage season 5 is shooting now or not. We haven't seen the boys around for a while in the media which makes me think they're filming. This blog claims they hadn't started filming as of 3-22-08. So, they could be by now and with a desired launch date of September 28th (pushed back from the original rumor of June) I wouldn't doubt things are almost 'in the can'.

So, at least we can look forward to 12 more one hour episodes of this HBO gem. I also heard a rumor that the writer has enough material up to season 8 (if HBO is still buying).

Survivor: Gabon—Earth’s Last Eden. Airing September 2008!

Survivor is gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa. The show will be setting up shop on the continent’s west coast in the country of Gabon (Where is Gabon?). “I didn’t know where it was,” confesses host Jeff Probst according to hollywoodinsider.com. To be a little more specific it will be filmed around the coastal towns of Nyonie and Ekwata in the Wonga-Wongue Presidential Reserve.

Plus, Survivor will be shot in HD (finally!)
Season 17 marks another big change for Survivor in that it will be the first time the show has been shot in high definition. “Survivor is one of those shows that you want to see in HD,” says Probst, while noting that the scenery will look a lot more stunning than the stranded contestants.

Canada Day Fireworks @ Burrard Inlet, 2008.

For the second consecutive year, the Burrard Inlet Fireworks Society is proud to bring us Canada day fireworks!!

The Burrard Inlet Fireworks Show is a unique multi-community event drawing hundreds of thousands of people and numerous communities together to celebrate Canada. As usual you can catch the show from a variety of locations: Downtown Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver and Vancouver’s West Side.

The spectacular fireworks display will start at 10.30pm on July 1st. Prepare for it to run a little late.. but who can't deal with a little fatigue Wednesday morning in exchange for a few bright and colorful explosions?