Gamer Wants To Travel
A travel blog by Emma
Category Archives: lists
May 19 2013

10 Awesome songs with place names in their title

by Gamer

Today let’s have a light entry! Here’s some songs that I like with place names in their title

Song Title: Midnight Train to Georgia
Artist: Gladys Knight
Where: Georgia, presumably the state in the US, as opposed to the country on Europe.

Song Title: Waterloo
Artist: ABBA
Where: Waterloo, Belgium

Song Title: Highroyds
Artist: Kaiserchiefs
Where: High Royds Psychiatric Hospital, Yorkshire, UK

Song Title: Echo Beach
Artist: Martha and the muffins
Where: Echo Beach, Ontario, Canada

Song Title: Africa
Artist: Toto
Where: Africa, the continent…

Song Title: San Luis Obispo
Artist: Scissorsisters
Where: San Luis Obispo, California, USA

Song Title: Sailing to Philadelpia
Artist: Mark Knopfler and James Taylor
Where: Philadelpia, Pennsylvania, USA

OK because we had that I need to add this:

Song Title: Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Artist: Will Smith
Where: Bel Air, California, USA

Song Title: Uncle John from Jamaica
Artist: Vengaboys
Where: Jamaica, the Caribbean

Song Title: Walking in Memphis
Artist: Marc Cohn
Where: Memphis, Tennesse, USA

And the “runner up”

Song Title: We’re Not Brazil, We’re Northern Ireland
WHY? Football song for any time we score a goal against anyone, so they feel really ashamed. Because guess what, we’re not Brazil, we’re Northern Ireland, and this is embarrassing.

Any other suggestions? I thought of loads!

Categories: lists | No Comments »

Dec 28 2012

7 Worldwide Festivals I really want to see!

by Gamer

Hi guys, I hope you had a nice Christmas! I keep telling people that I’d love to spend Christmas abroad, and mostly I’d love to spend it here:

Christmas in Leipzig Germany

Christmas in Germany

Every year in Leeds we get a German Christmas market, however it’s become repetitive and fake recently. I believe back in the day (5 years ago I think) it was usually staffed by Germans, but now it’s just people from Leeds – I liked the feeling I was travelling to a little part of Germany. I used to go on a lot of days for my dinner, and now… I probably visit it once in the whole time it’s here. I know exactly what stalls will come and can make my way straight there without even looking around. It’s become sad.

So this post is about some places I would love to spend, not just Christmas but other festivals too.

Read the rest of this entry »

photo by: Zygia

Categories: Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, lists, USA | No Comments »

Dec 16 2012

5 Places I love eating in Leeds that you won’t find elsewhere

by Gamer

Sorry, it’s been a little quiet here recently. To make up for it, I’m going to tell you about some places I love eating at or grabbing a coffee in in Leeds. You won’t find these places elsewhere unless they decide to expand!

Global Tribe Cafe Leeds

Global Tribe Café

Global Tribe Café


Website: www.globalcrystals.co.uk

Global Tribe is a shop that sells crystals, incense, tarot and all manner of cool stuff. They recently opened a vegan café upstairs. Both the café and the shop are staffed by the most lovely and friendly people. The atmosphere is really nice and the tea and cakes are wonderful.

How to get there: Ask for the the City Varities – it’s just opposite.

Mrs Athas Leeds

Mrs Athas

Mrs. Atha’s

Mrs. Atha’s is pretty new. Word of warning: this place is hipster central. If you are allergic to 3D glasses and bobble hats, maybe avoid this place. But the cakes are really nice and the decor is amazing and high quality (the bathrooms are total luzury too!)

How to get there: Ask for House of Fraser. Go there, but follow it out to the back. It’s just opposite the back of it.

Sesame Leeds

Sesame

Sesame


Website: www.ilovesesame.co.uk

Sesame is a lovely café that serves the most beautiful sushi ever. they also do noodles, salads and soups and loads of great snacks and cupcakes.

How to get there: Ask for the Town Hall. Facing opposite it, you will see 2 streets – take the one on the right (there should be a small park). Follow said street to the bottom and Sesame is on the bottom corner.

FujiHiro Leeds

Fuji Hiro

Fuji Hiro

Fuji Hiro looks a bit like a dodgy Asian cafeteria, but you pay really cheap prices for really good food and a lot of it. Believe me, you’ll feel totally stuffed if you managed to eat the whole of your Katsu curry!

How to get there: Ask for the Merrion Centre. When you are at the Merrion Centre, ask find a stationery store called “the works” – facing the entrance, go out the exit to the left. Fuji Hiro is along this street outside.

Little Tokyo Leeds

Little Tokyo

Little Tokyo


Website: www.littletokyo-leeds.co.uk

Little Tokyo is a bit more up market than most, but the food, the decor – all amazing. The bento boxes are lovely, the desserts are sooo yummy! If you’re willing to spend a little more, go here.

How to get there: It’s right beside Mrs. Atha’s

I’m really hungry now!

Categories: England, lists | No Comments »

Sep 9 2012

5 Crazy Hotel Rooms Around the World

by Gamer

Something I love looking at, but daren’t stay in is crazy hotel rooms around the world. Hotels that are quirky are probably expensive, but they are cool to look at.

Here are my top 5:

Propeller Island City Lodge Upside Down Room

Fancy a bit of Alice in Wonderland?

Upside Down Room, Propeller Island City Lodge, Berlin, Germany

Berlin is somewhere I’d love to go – and if I was to go, I might have to stay in this hotel, even for one night. They have a variety of crazy rooms including this one where everything is upside down, and one where you sleep in coffins and a really cool looking one with a bouncy room. And who said Germans didn’t have a sense of humour?

Website: www.propeller-island.de
Pricing: 69EUR-115EUR pppn

Hello Kitty Bondage Room

Hello Kitty, S&M… this is Japan

The Hello Kitty S&M Room, Hotel Adonis, Osaka, Japan

I’ve written before about Love Hotels in Tokyo but they also exist in Osaka (where I’d also love to visit). The most famous of these is probably the “Hello Kitty S&M Room” which sadly, no longer exists. The hotel it was in specialised in rooms featuring cute characters and also, bondage gear. Yeah. Japanese people.

Capsule Hotel Asakusa River Side

While we’re in Japan…

Any Capsule Room, Capsule Hotel Asakusa River Side, Tokyo, Japan

Since we’re in Japan, I might as well cover Capsule Hotels again. Your room is essentially a bed. But a bed away from everyone else. Yet right next to them. Japanese people seem to be obssessed with fitting as many people in one area as possible.

Pricing: £20-£30 pppn

Ice Hotel Room Sweden

S’nice

Ice Hotel Room, ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

In the artic circle, in Sweden, they made a hotel out of ice. It’s melted for most of the year, but imagine what it would be like to stay in a hotel that’s different every year! I would have loved to have stayed in the Tron Room while it was still there, but hey – any room would be nice!

Website: www.icehotel.com

Pricing: 1250SEK-7000SEK pppn

The Former Helsinki Prison Hotel Katajanokka

Imprisoned!

Prison Cell Rooms, Katajanokka Hotel, Helsinki, Finland

This one I owe to the awesome review over at Lifecruiser – the Katajanokka Jail Hotel. An old Prison turned into a hotel. Cute idea! Maybe you’d worry about them waking you up and taking you outside to execute though…

Website: www.bwkatajanokka.fi

Pricing: 150EUR-300EUR pppn

Does anyone have any other cool hotels to recommend? I’m always looking out for quirky ones!

Categories: Finland, Germany, Japan, lists, Sweden | 5 Comments »

Sep 2 2012

5 Beautiful Bookstores, 5 Beautiful Libraries

by Gamer

I recently wrote a post about being depressed and unemployed. During that period, the library was one of my places of solace. And so was the book store. I just loved reading and being away from home for a bit.

So now I present

5 Beautiful Bookstores and 5 Beautiful Libraries

Book Stores

Shakespear and Company Bookstore

Shakespeare and Company

1) Shakespeare and Company, Paris, France

Narrow hallways, staked with books, and it’s open until 11pm! How I would love for a bookstore in Leeds to be open this late. They offer you places to nap, and the I can just smell all those rare books. You can also sell your books to them so you have no excuse to not go if you “don’t have any money”.

Website: www.shakespeareandcompany.com

Barter Books

Barter Books, Alnwick, UK

2) Barter Books, Alnwick, UK

Not one I’ve visited (yet) – but look at those lovely high ceilings. This is also the home of the original “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster – now a British icon due to its rediscovery in 2001. I love the labelling on the sides of the aisles so you can easily see what section you’re in!

Website: barterbooks.co.uk

Livraria da Vila

Livraria da Vila, Sao Paulo, Brazil

3) Livraria da Vila, Sao Paulo, Brazil

This one fits in nicely with many ‘modern’ book stores, but I’d love to sit on the floor here and read.There are even books in the banister, it’s amazing!

Website: www.livrariadavila.com.br

Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal

4) Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal

Here is one very beautiful that looks like a lot of old libraries – look at that magnificent staircase! Lots of room to sit and cuddle with a nice book.

Website: Don’t think they have one but here’s their Google Plus

Selexyz Bookstore

Selexyz Bookstore, Maastricht, The Netherlands

5) Selexyz Bookstore, Maastricht, The Netherlands

This bookstore is in a converted church. I have a thing for high ceilings and I also really love churches. I’m love to visit, even if all the books are in Dutch!

Website: www.selexyz.nl

Libraries

Tiled Hall, Leeds Central Library

Leeds Central Library, UK

1) Leeds Central Library, UK

I couldn’t miss this one out – it was a great source of comfort to me. And inside it has some very beautiful architecture, especially the stairs and the ceilings.

CS Lewis Reading Room, McClay Library, Queens's University

CS Lewis Reading Room, McClay Library, Queen’s University

2) McClay Library, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK

I mgiht be a bit biased here, but I love university libraries. Even more so if they have a CS Lewis themed room. Northern Ireland is the home of CS Lewis, so of course Queen’s University has a CS Lewis, Narnia themed room.

Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland

Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland

3) Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland

Trinity College has a very beautiful campus, and the library is not exception it is the permanent home of the Book of Kells. I would love to go back to Dublin to see these things.

Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA

Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA

4) Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA

The Library of Congress has 2 awesome things: high ceilings and beautiful architecture. Actually, it also houses the Declaration of Independance. I’ve wanted to go here ever since watching National Treasure.

Nicholas Cage National Treasure I'm going to Steal the Declaration of Indepence

Ahhh, good old Knickerless.

(Thanks GIFolas Cage)

Strahov Monastery Library

Strahov Monastery Library, Prague, Czech Republic

Strahov Monastery Library, Prague, Czech Republic

It was difficult to choose out of many “Monastary Libraries” – they all seem to have beautiful ceilings, paintings and statues. This one in particular caught my eye. Prague has a lot of things to offer and I’m seriously considering wanting to go!

Does anyone have any other libraries or book shops to offer me?

Categories: Brazil, Czech Republic, England, France, Ireland, lists, Northern Ireland, pictures, Portugal, The Netherlands, USA | 1 Comment »

Aug 25 2012

5 Beautiful Things to See in Majorca

by Gamer

Hi Guys. I’ve been having a chat with the guys from Majorcan Holidays about what cool things there are to see and do on the island. An island holiday isn’t really my cup of tea, but they’re starting to convince me otherwise.

Olive Groves

Olive Grove Majorca

An Olive Grove Facing the Sea

I love olives. And you can go on Olive Grove Walks in Majorca. I’ve been on Vineyard Walks before and they’re great. Olives interest me more than wine so I’d love for a local to take me on a walk. One of the best known olive towns is Déià which not only looks beautiful but was home to some famous musicians such as Mick Jagger and Mark Knopfler. In the meantime, here’s a lovely song by Snow Patrol called “An Olive Grove Facing the Sea”

Cathedrals

Palma Cathedral

I love Cathedrals

I am not a religious person, but I love cathedrals. One in particular – Palma Cathedrawl looks very gorgeous and worth seeing. I really love looking at the art and architecture inside them. Strangely enough, this one was built on the site of a Mosque – pretty interesting history there!

Aquariums

Palma Aquarium

I also love aquariums

Palma also has an aquarium. I love aquariums, probably because I grew up near one. Any time I go away I have to visit an aquarium. Well done Majorca.

Cute little towns in the mountains

Valldemossa

Wow

I really like looking at and climbing mountains. I also love wandering around cute little towns and villages. Valldemossa might be another place to visit then.

Beaches

Formentor, Majorca

As if you didn’t know Majorca had beaches

I’m not big into the ‘beach holiday’ scene, but if you’re visiting an island they’re hard to get away from. Majorca has a lot of beaches and a lot of resorts. They all look very pretty. If I could afford it I’d rather go for a Majorcan Villa but maybe that’s just me.

Has anyone been to Majorca? Give me any advice?

Categories: lists, Majorca | No Comments »

Jul 29 2012

3 Live Music Venues and 9 Local bands in Leeds

by Gamer

Hi all, since Leeds Arena is due to open in 2013 I thought I’d give you a run-down of my Top 3 favourite live music venues in Leeds.

O2 Academy, Leeds

The O2 Academy in Leeds

O2 Academy, Leeds

This is the largest live-music venue in Leeds, and where the more well known acts will be playing. This will change whenever the Arena is built, and the biggest acts will migrate there, but The O2 Academy will still have it’s place (like King’s Hall compared to the Oddessy Arena in Belfast). I’ve actually only been here once, to see the late Gary Moore. I was probably the 2nd youngest person at the gig there and it was the only time I’ve ever seen a queue for the Men’s Toilets, but it was a very good night. In October I’m going to see the Scissor Sisters there, so I’m well pumped.

Website: http://www.o2academyleeds.co.uk/

Read the rest of this entry »

photo by: Ben Sutherland

Categories: England, lists | No Comments »

Jun 14 2012

7 non-mainstream places to shop in Belfast

by Gamer

I’m not big on shopping. I do however love looking around small, cute, independent (or very small chain) stores.

So, if you’re heading to Belfast any time soon, here are some cool places you might want to check out (whether what they sell is your ‘thing’ or not):

Belfast City Hall

City Hall was always a ‘meeting place’ for me as a kid.

Read the rest of this entry »

photo by: infomatique

Categories: lists, Northern Ireland | 2 Comments »

May 23 2012

Funny things confiscated by customs

by Gamer

Hi all! I found this infographic on this site the other day and thought it’d be cool to share.

Illegal, dangerous & downright weird items confiscated by customs
Source: NetVoucherCodes.co.uk

I can’t believe that drugs one. Makes you wonder the process that went into putting them and extracting them from.. where they were stored. Eww. Actually, there’s a picture of the fish-in-skirt here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatpicturegalleries/8757426/Anything-to-declare-Bizarre-things-confiscated-at-Customs.html?image=11

Here are some more – let’s say I feel a lot less bad trying to bring my copic markers in my hand luggage! Some of these are postal customs, but hey – how could I resist?

Read the rest of this entry »

Categories: infographic, lists | 1 Comment »

May 6 2012

Have I been where the Queen’s been?

by Gamer

Here’s a cool thing that the BBC are running for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee:

Have you been where the Queen’s been?

World Map

I used to have a world map on my wall. Love them.

The Queen has been to 116 Countries!. I would love to nomad it for a while and go to that many. I have only been to 12 of these countries. However I have been to Andorra, which the Queen has not been to :) Although I was only about 2 months old, which is a shame, I don’t remember it.

So, where has the Queen been? And where have I been? Here’s some pictures from Flickr of these beautiful countries. Thanks to all the wonderful people who made these photos available on Flickr with a Creative Commons license!

(Beware, image heavy. The Queen has been to 116 countries after all)

Read the rest of this entry »

photo by: Brett Jordan

Categories: lists, pictures | 4 Comments »

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