nateniale's travels

{ Sponsored Guest Post by BCP } There is something about Christmas that brings out the romantic side of many people and it is for this reason that many people chose to get engaged at this time of year. What could be more romantic than asking your loved one to marry you on a snowy Christmas morning sat by an open fire? Sadly here in the UK the chances of having a traditional Christmas scene when you open your curtains on Christmas morning is quite unlikely and it is more probable that it will rain on Christmas Day than snow. If you want the traditional Christmas scene then you are better off going somewhere abroad where you are pretty much guaranteed to get snow. This of course means that you have to go away for Christmas. If you are thinking of asking your loved one to marry you then this could be the perfect trip and an engagement to remember. New York or Lapland would both be fantastic choices for somewhere to pop the question. If you are thinking about going for it in ...

{ Sponsored Guest Post by HostelBookers  } Dublin, Ireland, has some hidden treasures that welcome the occasional intrepid traveler. Go for the authentic Irish experience instead of the diluted versions frequented by the thundering crowds when you step off the road less traveled and dive into the wilds of Dirty Dublin. Iveagh Gardens Although only a stone’s throw from bustling St. Stephen’s Square, most tourists remain oblivious to Dublin’s “Secret Garden” because it can’t be seen from the busy sidewalks. Only accessible via a gate in a red brick wall beside the Dublin National Concert Hall, it’s not promoted as an attraction because it would surely lose its exclusive charm. Once inside, you’ll notice the city sounds are drowned out by the bubbling dome-shaped waterfall bordered with lush plants. Curl up on a shady bench to read a book or sprawl out with a picnic on the green lawn to admire the silent statues. Designed for the private use of the Earl of Clonmell, the park is t...

{ Upcoming Movie: The Muppets } Why are there so many songs about rainbows  and what's on the other side?  Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,  and rainbows have nothing to hide.  So we've been told and some choose to believe it.  I know they're wrong, wait and see.  Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.  The lovers, the dreamers and me. If the lyrics sound familiar, that is probably because you have heard the song before (one time, or the other). The song is called Rainbow Connection, and it is sang by my favourite muppet, Kermit the Frog. I mean, just look at that face! And, don't you just love the simplicity of the lyrics and the froggy dreamy voice of his? I just found out that the song actually received an Oscar nomination in 1980. Well, Kermit the Frog will be singing the song again in the upcoming movie The Muppets. Apart from all the Muppets that we have come to love, the movie will also star Jason S...

{ Movie Preview: Immortals } Eons after the Gods won their mythic struggle against the Titans, a new evil threatens the land. Mad with power, King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) has declared war against humanity. Amassing a bloodthirsty army of soldiers disfigured by his own hand, Hyperion has scorched Greece in search of the legendary Epirus Bow, a weapon of unimaginable power forged in the heavens by Ares. Only he who possesses this bow can unleash the Titans, who have been imprisoned deep within the walls of Mount Tartaros since the dawn of time and thirst for revenge. In the king’s hands, the bow would rain destruction upon mankind and annihilate the Gods. But ancient law dictates the Gods must not intervene in man’s conflict. They remain powerless to stop Hyperion, until a peasant named Theseus (Henry Cavill) comes forth as their only hope. Secretly chosen by Zeus, Theseus must save his people from Hyperion and his hordes. Rallying a band of fellow outsiders—including visionary ...

Ever wished for someone else's life?  The movie title and this tag line, basically sums up the movie. Two best friends with extremely different kind of lifestyles, found themselves in each other's body. Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) is a single, quasi-employed man-child who has never met a responsibility he liked. Dave (Jason Bateman) is an overworked lawyer, husband and a father of three. They envy each other's lives, and due to a freak of nature, they get what they wished for when they wake up in each other's body. The premise of body-swapping is nothing new, and I did not really expect much from the movie. I enjoyed watching Ryan Reynolds in his other movies - The Proposal, Definitely, Maybe, and Wolverine - and I have just seen Jason Bateman in The Horrible Bosses. There is the beautiful Olivia Wilde from the TV series House, as well. I thought that even if the movie is not out to change the art of movie-making, it would be an enjoyable comedy. Well, there are some fu...

Real Steel is an upcoming movie starring Hugh Jackman as a washed-up boxer in the near future. He lost his chance to become a boxing champion when human beings were replaced by steel robots for boxing tournament. He started building robots from scrap metals to survive, and when he hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up his estranged 10-year old son to build and train a robot for one last shot at a comeback. Now, if I were to build a robot, I would probably not build one for boxing. It would be one to help me in my daily tasks so that I have more hours in a day to do everything that I want! To work in the office less, to cook more, to plan more travels and of course, to do lots of travelling! Oh, here's an idea - my robot would work and earn money on my behalf while I take a year off to travel around the world! Ah, maybe that's just wishful thinking... Oh well, I am sure that the robots in the movie would be action-packed, and the movie sounded like one that would be sui...

My accommodation of choice these days are usually Bed and Breakfast or apartments rather than those big typical hotels that looked similar regardless of which country or city that you are in. Bed and Breakfast are usually more personal, it has a better feel of the place that you are in and the people are usually friendlier! Some of the best places that we have stayed were not four or five stars hotels! So, when roomorama contacted me about their website, I was pretty excited and spent some time going through a few of the thousands of properties in hundreds of destinations world wide. It offers lots of short term accommodation that looks so amazing, and homey! roomorama  works as an online marketplace to connect the host with the guests, and offers streamlined and secure transactions. You speak directly to the host, but if you have any issues, roomorama has an in-house customer service team available around the clock. There are also special perks for roomora...

While I enjoyed watching Mr Bean when I was younger, I had never been able to appreciate that kind of comedy. So, there are very few movies by the likes of Rowan Atkinson, Steve Carell or Jim Carrey that I truly enjoyed. Well, except the occasional ones that surprises me, like The Truman Show (with Jim Carrey). So, when I was given a chance to receive a pair of free tickets to watch the sneak preview of Johnny English Reborn - the spy movie featuring none other than Rowan Atkinson - I had my reservations. Would I find it funny? Would I enjoy myself? Would I be able to write an unbiased review? Well, I did watch, and I laughed and enjoyed myself. However, I have passed on the task of writing the review... Review by Q Disgraced spy on a mission to set things straight, cool gadgets complete with voice-commanded Rolls-Royce, intelligence agency with a no-nonsense chief (portrayed by a British-sounding Gillian Anderson), a pretty and intellectual love interest, and a few action and c...

I first saw Ashton Kutcher playing the "dude" guy in "Dude, Where's My Car?" I hated the movie and stopped watching after a few minutes. However, I was pretty impressed when I watched him in "The Butterfly Effect". He continued to have a pretty good career, but not so much for his acting skill. Natalie Portman is an amazing actress. She has been winning awards after awards and is even expected to win the Oscars for her role in "Black Swan". With Star Wars, Closer, V for Vendetta and many others under her belt, she will continue to have a stellar career as an actress. I would never have imagined these 2 actors in the same movie together, so I was pretty surprised when I learnt that both of them would be starring in a romantic comedy "No Strings Attached". After watching the trailer , I was looking forward to catch the movie. The movie is about two friends who decided to have one of those "friends with benefits" kind o...