Entertainment at the Comfort of Your Home

What are the kinds  of  activities  or  things   usually  entertain you? Do you need to go somewhere to entertain yourself? Everyone certainly has their  own source  of entertainment that they always love  and enjoy. In  this highly technological world we live in, there are  various ways we can  entertainment   ourselves. If you love watching television, playing video games, reading a very interesting book- like the bestseller entitled "The 50 Shades of Grey" (a lot of friends were wildly  entertained with this one), or maybe playing some indoor games like chess, cards, or entertainment through electronic media, there are numerous types of games and entertainment to  choose  from that   practically everyone can  find interesting.

According to wikipedia, "Entertainment is an action, event or activity that aims to amuse and interest an audience. It is the audience that turns a private recreation or leisure activity into entertainment." I believe  this is a very clear statement   about entertainment.

Did  you know that there are still other forms  of entertainment that can be enjoyed  in  the comfort of your  own home? You don't even need to go anywhere, there's no need to stress  out about  driving. This is  especially true  during the winter season. when it is snowing outside or  the weather really gets bad. By entertaining yourself  at   home, you are not only safe,  but  you will also avoid the hassles of driving. 

I am actually talking about playing bingo. Yes, you can play bingo online at PartyBingo. While enjoying  sipping your favourite tea or coffee in  the comfort of your own home, playing online bingo will surely get rid of your boredom during rainy days. It  will make  your day   brighter and  more enjoyable. Playing online bingo will not only entertain you,  but  you  will also have a good  chance of winning. Why not try your luck and entertain yourself at  Partybingo.com!

Home Ideas I Get When I Travel

We just arrived from our weekend trips in Switzerland and France. Among the places we visited were Riquewihr and Strasbourg, both are located in France and Basel in Switzerland.  Those were  such wonderful trips and was so cheap considering that  we stayed in a 5-star Hilton hotel in Basel.

As a traveler, I am always observant everytime I visit a place. I always look around and love to take pictures of anything. Last Sunday, as we were on our way to Strasbourg, this retired German guy who was with us in that bus trip told me something like, "You are taking a lot of pictures, huh?" I answered back, "Because we have nice cameras and taking pictures is only the memories we can bring home for free. Besides, we are beautiful that's why we love to take pictures of ourselves". He ended up shutting his mouth.

Anyway, back to the main topic. Don't you know that I always observe and gather home decoration tips when I travel? Taking for example our trip to Turkey last year. In our hotel in Sarimsakli in Ayvalik region, we stayed in Berk Hotel and Resort, a 4-star hotel in this area. I love the furniture in their lobby and I even took some pictures from it.

The lobby of our hotel in Sarimsakli, Turkey.

Most of the times, I look for home and bathroom ideas in any hotel where we stay during our travel. In Basel Hilton for example, I love the idea of their bathroom setting. It is quite simple but elegant. Their lobby is small and has modern furniture but look attractive.

Simple but elegant bathroom in Hilton Holel in Basel.

During my vacation in Las Vegas, I also collected some garden ideas especially in Bellagio Resort. In their famous conservatory, you can find plants and flower arrangements that are unique and are truly beautiful. I have some ideas now on how to remake our garden for summer next year.

Since we are continually doing some home improvements and renovations at the moment, I had the chance to get some ideas from the hotels and resorts we stayed the past months and years.

I also get some ideas from the different sites that offers home designs. Viva Interiors  for example gave me some ideas about home designs and lighting. Since we planned to renovate our dining room next year, their unique dining furniture like tables and chairs gave me some ideas on what kind of furniture I will buy next year.

Egg  chair at Viva Interior.

Viva Interiors has famous designers like Le Corbusier, Florence Knoll, George Nelson, Hans Wegner and many more. They offer modern 20th design especially for your modern home. One good thing with the company is that, they deliver across Europe. It means no worry for those who are living in this continent.

Lastly, I can say that I simply love their home modern designs. I hope we can have some of it when we will be renovating our dining room and living room. Are you looking especially for modern home ideas? Simple visit Viva Interiors and also read their buyers' guide!

Visit to the Beautiful Insel Mainau

It is so far one of the most beautiful garden I visited in Germany.  Its  location is perfect being  surrounded by water. Insel Mainau  is a garden island located in  Lake Constance.  It is a flowering island notable for its parks and gardens. The island belongs to the Lennart  Bernadotte Foundation and was created by the late Prince Lennart.

We visited this island last summer  of this year. It was bus trip and took us around 4 hours to reach this island. The weather was perfect during our visit. It was quite hot but with the beauty of this island, you will  forget  all  your tiredness and worries. I felt like I was in paradise when I was there.

At the Butterfly Greenhouse in Insel Mainau.

 The island is one of the main attractions in Lake Constance area.  It is  famous  for its Italian Rose Garden with its pergolas, sculptures, fountains and some 500 varieties of roses. The  Butterfly Greenhouse and  the flower arrangements in its gardens are also  worth to see.

I can't imagine how the gardeners maintain and water  all the thousands  of flowers in the gardens there. If  I am not mistaken, they use  special kind of  watering system. I saw some  samples of these  in Easy Watering. It is actually  a site that is engaged in selling  garden watering systems like sprinklers, automatic watering, garden hoses, pressure sprayers and  many more.

flowers at Insel Mainau.

 I just remember now that my sister in Las Vegas is using this automatic water system. It  uses  sprinklers  that automatically water  the plants using  timers.  If you are looking for some ideas  on  easy watering in your lawn  or  garden, this site can surely help you.

Things I Packed in my Travel Bag

Travel, travel, travel! How I wish I am on the other side of the world right now to avoid the cold winter weather in Europe. The best place to go is in Asia or somewhere in South America. Any place you can suggest? Haha! I am dreaming again! Let me wake-up now and share about the things I always packed in my hand-carry luggage.

Paper and Pens- I always have this with me and I really need it all the times. As a blogger, I need to take down my travel experiences. Whether I am sitting on the train, plane or bus, I usually record things I experience when I travel. Paper and pens are always a necessity for me and therefore, I always packed it in my bag.

Digital Cameras and SD Cards- This is a must to pack in my travel bag. Without these, I better stay at home. Could you believed that I always bring at least 3 digital cameras when I travel? Others might find it crazy but rather be crazy than sorry! Who knows when one camera is accidentally dropped, I still have two left. I always take pictures as many as I can because I never know if I can still go back to that certain place.

Laptop- Yes, I do! I will be very happy if the hotel we are staying has an internet connection. I can do blogging while travelling. I can also check important emails. I usually save the pictures temporarily in my laptop.

External Hard Drive- I have a very handy 2.5 Passport where I also save my travel photos. Especially if I have a long vacation, I always see to it that I bring it with me for back-up.

Cellphones- We never know when emergency arise, the roaming services of my cellphone provider can be used anywhere I go. I can also use it as camera or make videos.

With all of the above travel gadgets and supplies, I know where to shop for it. I found Viking a perfect place to do online shopping. They simply have everything for my needs as a blogger and traveler. Since, it is a European site based in the UK, I can order gadgets and supplies for tax-free and cheaper shipping.

Why I love this site? It is easy to navigate, variety of choices, affordable price and very convenient.

Lastly, I always have with me my credit cards, passport and other valid identification cards, debit cards and some cash. These are only some of the things I  bring with me. There are still other important ones. I am ready to travel again!

What you need for a trip to Paris

Paris has inspired literally thousands of novels, poems and screenplays. If you’re planning on experiencing a little of the same inspiration, or if you’re just looking to enjoy every moment of your visit, here are some things you need to make the most of your stay.  

…a useful phrase book Many phrase books try to justify their retail price by including words and terms for all eventualities, meaning travellers end up with a heavy, daunting tome that’s a burden to carry around and a pain to navigate through in a hurry to find what’s needed. Don’t be put off by thinner pamphlets that only cover the basics – they might be all that’s required. Alternatively, if you have a smartphone, there’s a decent selection of apps available for download, any of which will eliminate the necessity of carrying a book at all.  

…light clothing Even city dwellers might be surprised by how humid or muggy it can get in the urban centre at the height of summer. Pack loose-fitting breathable clothes so that wandering the streets in the afternoon sun is more bearable. Also take a lightweight mac that you can tuck into a bag; the climate isn’t too dissimilar to that of the UK, so rain is always a possibility!  

…a flexible itinerary With so much to take in, it would be silly not to have any idea of what to see and do, particularly if you’re only there for a day or two. However, Paris rewards leisurely exploration, so take some time to wander off-course every now and again.  

The Invalides in Paris, France.

…some ‘joie de vivre’ France as a whole is best enjoyed if you decide to embrace a certain lifestyle. Let the laid-back, unhurried atmosphere that has become characteristic of the French capital take over and leave all of your baggage behind at the hotel, both metaphorically and literally.  

…a reliable credit card So that nothing gets in the way of you having a good time, keep your American Express credit card handy. If you have yet to apply for one, have a look online at their range of  credit cards with rewards that help you get the most from the money you spend.

Why I Want A Trip to Hayes Garden World

I always love to visit gardens and parks. I have been to some in Europe and I always love it. The last trip where we visited a park and garden was in Insel Mainau. It is a garden island in Bodensee, known in English as Lake Constance and one of the main attractions in this area. They have a park landscape with views on the lake. This place really refreshing and relaxing plus you see the beauty of nature around it including its many species of plants and flowers.

Aside from travelling, gardening is my other passion. I always love to plant and cultivate flowers, trees, cacti and any other form of living plants. I just wish there is no autumn and winter in Europe so that I can do gardening outside all year round.

Today while browsing online, I stumbled at Hayes Garden World. I simply find this site very interesting.

Here are some of the reasons why I want to visit this place;

- I love the products they offer from garden furniture to garden tools and accessories.
- They also sell all forms of home furniture from dining to bedroom, living room, kitchen and other indoor furniture.
- I would love to experience a coach party at Hayes Garden World.
 -Its perfect location on the banks of Lake Windermere in Ambleside, would make your shopping and sightseeing a relaxing and enjoyable one.
- A pastry or cake and a cup of coffee or tea would be perfect for a break at their Four Seasons Terrace Cafe.
- Since Christmas is fast  approaching, you can find unique gifts at their shop.
- I would love to especially shop for giftware, home and garden decors, flowers and bulbs and some other items I find useful and interesting.

There are just a lot of things to see and discover while shopping at Hayes Garden World. I wish to visit it in the future. I know I will visit North England for the second time in the future. I will surely include Hayes Garden World in my itinerary.

Going Back to Italy.... Again?

I am trying to count how many times did I already visited Italy.  One..two..three..Seven times  all in all. My 8th visit will be this coming Friday. My first visit there was in 2004 and I kept on coming back after that. My good friend invited me to go with  them.  I guess we will be staying in a hotel  in Vicenza. I need to finish packing up my stuffs tomorrow  since we will be leaving on Friday morning.

Italy is a nice country, with all its historic sights and cities. These are only some of the reasons why I keep on coming back there. Verona is among one of the cities I visited.

Remember the Shakespeare's story of Romeo and Juliet?  Its setting is in Verona, in Juliet's House  or Casa di Giulietta and its famous balcony. A lot of tourists are visiting Verona each year but not really that much compared to Venice and Rome.

One of the most famous sights in Verona is its Arena,  spectacular Roman amphitheatre like the one on Coliseum in Rome.  You can see the photograph I took during our visit last July 2011.

The Arena di Verona. Taken during our visit last July 2011. © www.webbloggirl.com

I still don't know the full itinerary that we will have during our  three days visit in Vicenza and nearby places. During our  third night, we will  have an overnight in  Edelweiss Lodge in Garmisch Partenkirchen. On  Monday, October 12,  we plan to visit the  Swarovski Crystal  Museum in Innsbruck.

I am quite excited for this trip. Italy see you soon!

Food and Travel Goes Together

When we book a holiday package, we should see to it that everything is already included in it. Flights, accommodation, food and sightseeing, are some of the things we need to check in that package.

Last week, I booked a trip to Switzerland and Strasbourg. It was really a very cheap trip. It is only an overnight trip and we will be visiting three cities.A 4-star hotel accommodation, breakfast and transportation to the different cities are already included in that trip. For only 99.00 Euros departing from Bavaria, Germany, I already find it very cheap.

I am a frequent traveller and I can say, "Food and Travel Goes Together". This is my motto and everytime I visit a certain place, I always try to taste some of the local recipes and delicacies of a certain town or city.

When I visited England for three weeks last 2008. My friend brought me to a small restaurant near Windsor Castle to taste some food. I told him, I just want fish and chips. He said that I should try jacket potato. I was so curious how this potato with jacket look like. It is actually a grilled potato with skin on it. My friend even told me that they usually eat potato including its skin. It was the first time I tried it and it was really good. It was perfect combination with fish. I love it.

I also have some friends who love tasting delicacies everytime they travel. All of them in the family love food with chili flavor on it. I am not very sure if they already heard about Trees Can't Dance. I was just inspired about the vision of the owner of this business.

Since I love cooking, I found the products of Trees Can't Dance perfect for our kitchen. I also found out that they sell their products through Sainsbury, a chain supermarket in the UK. I would love to try their pastes and marinades. They also have a blog where they share topics about health, nutrition and cooking. I would love to browse more in a couple of days and would love to know if they ship outside of the UK.

To all my friends who are planning to travel especially in Europe, be sure to try the food and delicacies of the different cities and countries that you will be visiting. For your holiday will be an unforgettable one if you do so!

This Beautiful City of Toledo in Spain

I am going back to my previous trips again. It always makes me feel  good remembering the memories from my previous  travels. More on that, I am thankful  with  the advent of digital cameras where we can take photographs as many as we want.

That  trip we had in Toledo last December 2011 was enchanting. There is something in this city that made me fell in love it. It seems that it is a romantic city especially if you view it  far away on top of a hill. I just forgot the location where we had a fantastic view of the whole city.  I got it now! It is actually in Rio Tagus or Tagus River where you can have a breath-taking view of the city.

Toledo is a historic city  which is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was one the former capitals of  the Spanish Empire. It is around  70 kilometers from Madrid.

During our first day of sightseeing there, our tour guide brought us to most of the sights of Toledo including the Cathedral, Mezquita Cristo de la Luz , Puerta de Bisagra, Puente de San Martin, The Alcazar fortress and many more. We also had a walk around the narrow streets of the old city of Toledo.

A church in Toledo, Spain. I cannot remember the name of this church.

Puente de San Martin crossing the River Tagus. 

© www.webbloggirl.com

Top 3 Cape Town Attractions

From the towering mountains that ring the area, to the sweeping coastlines and abundance of natural beauty, it seems fair to say that Cape Town has it all. If you’re planning to holiday here in the near future, you’ll be bombarded with options, specifically what to see and do. Apart from mentioning that Table Mountain should already be on your to-do list, here are three other great attractions you shouldn’t miss out on, while in the city that I love.

1. Smallest Floral Kingdom

Home to part of the world’s smallest floral kingdom – the fynbos kingdom – Kirstenbosch gardens, offers visitors many unique sounds, sights, and smells. This treasured national heritage site stretches over 36 hectares and has a diverse array of plants, including a smelling garden for the blind. While here, have a picnic on the lush lawns of Table Mountain’s eastern slope, or head to the on-site tea house which serves a variety of wholesome foods. The aviary next to the tea house never fails to delight all ages, and there are weeping willows dotted about the gardens which youngsters can play hide-and-seek in. If you’re an avid outdoorsman, or women, try one of the plentiful hiking trails available, including a scenic but steep trail known as Skeleton Gorge, which can take you all the way to Table Mountain’s plateau.

One of the many fynbos species you're likely to see in the botanical gardens. By kyknoord

2. Ocean Experiences

From around mid-August through to October, the whales come out to play, giving visitors a chance to glimpse them. Along the coastal areas, such as False Bay and Boyes Drive, there are whale watching sites - so bring your binoculars! Whale watching isn’t the only ocean attraction available so if you’re hoping to spot other sea life, then head over to Duiker Island. Tours are usually offered from Hout Bay harbour and last for approximately one hour, though longer tours normally combine the seal experience with viewing a shipwreck in Maori Bay. Where there are seals, there are usually sharks, and Cape Town has plenty of shark cage diving tour operators for those who seek the thrill of danger. If you’re a bit nervous about being in a cage in the open water, then diving with sharks at the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront may be a slightly safer option.

A view of Cape Fur Seals watching the breaking waves. By Frank.Vassen

3. Right in the middle

There is little one could want after visiting Cape Town’s vibrant city centre, or the V&A Waterfront. Everything is within reach here, so take to the streets like a local and walk through the various districts to soak up the culture. Or pop into one of the numerous Iziko museums and learn about the heritage and wildlife. The Cape Malay quarter below Signal Hill provides amazing culinary delights – from well-known dishes like bobotie, to spicy curries and meat-filled rotis. If you fall in love with the flavours, go on a cooking tour and surprise your loved ones when you return home. If you’re looking for some nightlife, head to Long Street in the evenings and check out the various clubs and pubs. For the romantic among you, a cruise in the harbour is never amiss, and feeding the squirrels in the Company Gardens makes for a great memory.

A look out over the V&A Waterfront. By coda (Flickr)

Author bio: Roseanna McBain writes for the Cape Town accommodation and booking website, TravelGround. She enjoys exploring all the wonderful offerings of the Mother City, and is currently attempting to learn some local recipes.