TamaraBrooks.com

Photos of Bali, 2008!

Post-Bali Vacation Review!

Bali was fantastic. Everyday was felt like a new vacation. From jet skiing, scuba diving, body boarding to clothes shopping. Bali had it all! We did some deliciously cultural stuff as well; a cooking class and a batik art course (a traditional Balinese textile handicraft that's unbelievable laborious and requires a great deal of talent). We took a white water rafting tour and toured villages on a mountain bike trek. 

All this put aside the food was fantastic. Cheap beer and luxury (almost 5 star) food to wash it down with. A little place just an hour or so north of the airport called "Ubud" was my favorite. A small monkey forest is their man tourist attraction. Costing a mere 25 cents Canadian to get in, the bananas you feed the monkeys are more expensive. 

Anyhow, here are a few pictures to temp you into making Bali your next holiday destination!

 

Have you been watching Survivor? Check out Jeff Probst's blog!

It looks like it's going to be a great season on Survivor.

I'm digging the surroundings of "Earths Last Eden", it lush, it's tough and the men still walk around with their shirts off! Good times! I even got chills down my spine last week when Sugar waded her way out into the water to find the immunity idol. I was totally paranoid an alligator would surface in those dingy jungle waters and snap off a leg or two.

Anyhow, a friend sent me the link to Jeff Probst's blog. It's a gem of a read!
http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/10/jeff-probst-gab.html

Survivor: Gabon: Meet the Players!

Great news! The new Surivor Gabon cast has been announced. Meet the 18 men and women who'll attempt to outwit, outplay, and outlast each other on this fall's ''Survivor''! It's a great article with exclusive video clips and Jeff Probst's thoughts on each. Check it out here: Survivor Gabon Cast (2008).

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.