Author Archives: auburn

Songkran: The Thailand Water Festival – The Wettest Festival in Asia

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The culture of Thailand is just as renowned as her lush natural beauty. Anyone who is familiar with Thailand or even Asia in general will be aware of the legendary Songkran festival.

File:Huai Yai, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150, Thailand - panoramio (5).jpg

song songroov, Huai Yai, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150, Thailand – panoramio (5), CC BY 3.0

What is Songkran?

This festival is associated with new beginnings and purification, which is why the country turns into a massive water-fight. During Songkran, Thai people also gently and respectfully wash the hands of their elders, and even wash Buddha statues with water scented with flowers. In the modern day, things are taken to the extreme with people taking to the streets with water guns.

File:Songkran 012.jpg

Takeaway, Songkran 012, CC BY-SA 3.0

 

When is it?

This iconic festival officially takes place over the course of three days starting on the 13th of April and concluding on the 15th. Many people take leave from work during this time and the duration of the festival usually ends up being extended to around six days.

The Best Places to Be

Extended festival celebrations usually take place in the more tourist-oriented areas such as Phangan. Resorts are aplenty in this region with many to choose from such as Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas, which means Songkran is particularly intriguing here.

Tips to Remember

Everyone excluding religious figures, royalty and pregnant women will be splashed. Since you’re guaranteed to get very wet, leave any electronic belongings at your place of residence/accommodation. Due to increased accidents during this time, it is recommended you do not ride a bike when Songkran happens.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Tips for a Successful International Conference – Covering all the Angles

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Organising a conference is a tremendous task that requires a great deal of foresight and planning, especially if it’s going to take place in a foreign nation.

Choose an Ideal Location/Venue

One of the most fundamental criteria to consider is capacity. A venue must have enough space to support guests, exhibitors and workshops. If you’re having multiple workshops or speakers happening simultaneously, it will require some sound-proofing and acoustical-knowledge by the venue provider.

Image Credit: Bali International Convention Centre

Translators

The language barrier is an absolutely essential factor to consider if there’s any sort of international basis for the conference. It is also worth having a contingency for guests who might be impaired visually or on an auditory level.

 Transportation

This is particularly important for conferences abroad. If you want opt for an exotic location and choose a convention centre in Bali then transportation will definitely be an issue. Although air-fare is commonly provided to special guests, transportation within the country might not always be provided.

Image Credit: Bali International Convention Centre

Accommodation

It’s always good to choose a venue belonging to a hotel or one that has a selection of accommodation options nearby. Some places such as Bali International Convention Centre have their own on-site accommodation. If you’re choosing a hotel as a venue for the conference, you can pretty much always get special rates for the rooms.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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The Algarve Sardine Festival – A Seafood Celebration

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The people of Algarve, which is the southernmost region of Portugal, consider grilled fish to be a hallmark of their culture, and this belief led to the Sardine Festival.

Fish, Grid, Sardine

The Food

Grilled sardines are served with farmhouse bread and a ‘mountain salad’ which consists of chopped tomatoes, onions and green peppers that have been sprinkled with oregano topped off with a dressing of oil and vinegar.

Dining Etiquette

One has to place the fish on the bread and then eat the flesh, flipping the fish after one side has been consumed. Then the skeleton is discarded and another fish is placed on the same slice of bread. Once you’ve had your fill of fish, you may consume the now deliciously flavourful bread.

Festival Season

The exact timing of the festival changes depending on the town you’re in but most places have it during the months of July or August. Attending this festival is one of the most interesting things to do in Vilamoura and if you’re staying at one of many hotels nearby such as Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, be sure to check it out.

Festival or Feast-ival?

The festivals are known to feature some of the finest chefs in the region, who conduct cooking lessons as well. You can also generally find various kinds of beer and wine from the most renowned breweries and vineyards of the nation.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Phuket Vegetarian Festival – For purification of mind and body

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Phuket is a holidaymaker’s paradise for many reasons. If you are planning a trip, be sure to include these must-visit attractions in your itinerary.

 

Vegetarian Festival

 

Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Phuket Vegetarian Festival , Binder.donedat via Flickr, (CC BY-ND 2.0)

The Phuket vegetarian festival in Thailand is an event filled with colour and gaiety that is celebrated each year between 20 to 28th October.

Good Health

As its name suggests the festival lays emphasis on the abstinence of any kind of meat and is a totally vegetarian fair. Supposedly this festival is dedicated to the nine emperor Gods to induce good health and peace of mind. Phuket is amongst the top vacation destinations in Thailand.

Origins

Get to know more about this festival and local fairs and events in blogs such as The Vacation Gateway. In fact, the origins of this festival can be traced back to the time when a wandering band of performers was stricken with a severe bout of malaria and went on a strictly vegetarian meal and prayed to God for purification of the mind and body and sure enough the entire troupe miraculously recovered completely.

Visitors

Face piercing in Phuket vegetarian festival

Phuket vegetarian festival, Photo via Public Domain Pictures

As a token of appreciation to the Gods, the people celebrated their recovery from what at that time was considered a fatal illness and henceforth the abstention of consuming any form of meat continues to this day. People fly in from Asian destinations, China, and other parts of the world to attend this colourful event.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

How to spend your free stopover in Qatar – Quick guide to Qatar

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Despite the recent conflict and blockade of Qatar by some of the other countries in the Middle East, Qatar is still a Go-To destination and with good reason! Keep reading this awesome guide on what exactly you could do during your free stopover in Qatar!

Doha Fort

Also known as Al Koot, this historical fortress in located in the heart of Souq Waqif in Doha. Built in the 19th century, the Doha Fort is a popular tourist attraction and is a great way for visitors to learn about the country’s history and the history of the fort.

Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif is a great place to shop, eat and stay at! There are many Souq Waqif hotels to choose from if you want to spend a day in the city, such as Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, which provide an ideal escape and haven from the heat!

Al Maha Sanctuary

Animal lovers! This place is for you! Al Maha Sanctuary is the controlled breeding ground for the Oryx – this ensures that the speicies doesn’t reach the extinction stage. The Oryx is beloved by the locals – hence why the national airline, Qatar Airways uses it as their symbol!

Shopping

Who doesn’t love shopping, right?! Spend the day walking through the shiny malls in the city and leave the store only after you’ve purchased bags worth of items!

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Rituals related to Sri Lankans – An interesting culture.

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Blessings_before_Grade_Five_Scholarship_Exam_in_Sri_Lanka

Dinesh De Alwis, Blessings before Grade Five Scholarship Exam in Sri Lanka, CC BY-SA 4.0

Rituals and customs go to the heart of the ancient culture of Sri Lanka. They have been passed down from generation to generation straddling over the 2,500 year history of the island. A majority of these customs and traditions are interspersed with the daily routines and livelihoods of people in their respective regional, social and religious spheres.

Taprobana, was the name given to the island of Sri Lanka by the ancient Greeks. Some of these cultural significances and rituals are based on colonial influence and are mostly still in practice within the island and is more to do in Galle , Kandy, Colombo and Negombo and other areas that were subjected to extensive colonial rule. You may catch the architectural wonders when staying at these areas in a tourist resort or villa such as Taprobana, Wadduwa Sri Lanka.

The aboriginals of the country also known as the ‘Veddhas’ are famous for prayers to avoid misfortune which they believe to be caused by the lifeless. Charms and various rituals are carried out by ‘Kattandiyas’ often to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits. In the ancient times, before the discovery of calendars the people of the country had a habit of considering full moon days as a day for spiritual awakening. In the modern times, Poya Days are preserved for practising Buddhism by visiting temples to engage in various religious rituals. Most Buddhists observe the ‘Eight Precepts’ on these days to stay away from the pleasures of materialistic life. One of the biggest religious festivals of Sri Lanka similar to most Buddhist counties is Vesak, this is a commemoration of the birth, Enlightenment and ‘Parrinirvana’ (passing way) of the Buddha.

Thovil or “devil-dancing” are a ritualistic healing ceremony exclusively practised by Sri Lanka.

The temple of tooth relic ‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’ in Kandy, is a dynamic temple complex that has a series of ingrained rituals. The annual Perehera at Dalada Maligawa is a cultural phenomenon. During this glorious event, the Tooth Relic is paraded through the vibrant streets, alongside cultural dancers, traditional drummers, and majestic Sri Lankan elephants.

 

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Cultural Activities to do in Negombo -A Treasure-trove of Cultural Wonders

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Drenched in sunshine and home to idyllic stretches of shoreline bordered by refreshing ocean waters, Negombo, a slice of paradise has a rich history and heritage and those visiting here have much to do. One of the best ways to enjoy this coastal getaway is to stay at budget hotels in Sri Lanka that are located on the shore itself such as Hotel J Negombo.

Being a coastal city in Sri Lanka, Negombo was a very popular city during the colonization of the island. Tipped to be one of Negombo’s most visited tourist attractions, the Dutch Fort is no ordinary remnant of the city’s colonial legacy. Having been under the Portuguese and Dutch rule in centuries past the city’s colonial heritage is one of its chief draws for tourists from around the world. A tour of the Dutch Fort is a highlight of any tour of Negombo as the imposing structure built as a defence mechanism against invasion is an architectural marvel that dates back to 1672.

Affectionately dubbed Sri Lanka’s “Little Rome” Negombo is home to more churches per square kilometre than any other city on the island. Filled with churches some of the key highlights in Negombo include St. Mary’s Church which is one of the largest cathedrals in all of Sri Lanka. Other points of interest for church-goers include the Katuwapitiya Church, Sea Street Church and the Grand Street Church which are incidentally the largest parishes in the most catholic city. Although Christianity is the predominant religion in Negombo, there is a good deal of mosques, kovils and Buddhist Temples all over Negombo city. A prominent age old temple in the region is the Angurukaramulla Temple and is known above all for its 6m-long reclining Buddha. Every day devout worshippers can be seen offering flowers to Lord Buddha and praying for prosperity before this mighty statue.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Etihad Stadium One of the Top Entertainment Arenas in the World – The Dynamic Etihad Stadium of Melbourne

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Etihad Stadium

                               Profile, Etihad Stadium, CC BY 2.0

Melbourne is a cultural capital of Australia and a thriving destination where the performing arts are concerned. It is also a prime locale for sporting events, since it also hosted many major events such as the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and various world-cup matches. As a result of this the city is a thriving tourism destination and has many choices of accommodation, ranging from resorts to serviced apartments Melbourne CBD has to offer such as Oaks On William.

The stadium finished construction in 2001, and cost a total of more than four-hundred-million Australian dollars. All of that money was arguably well spent since it is one of the most renowned entertainment venues in the world. The coliseum-style stadium boasts a retractable roof that is the biggest of its kind within the entire Southern Hemisphere.

The venue was originally built for Australian-rules football, but has since hosted a wide variety of events. One of the most popular of them was part of the WWE Global Warning tour. Although it wasn’t a televised, it was considered an official WWE Live event. When UFC 193 was held at the stadium it set a record attendance for the company.

There have been a wide range of international musical acts that have graced the stage, encompassing a wide variety of genres. These artists include big names such as Barbara Streisand, George Michael, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, AC/DC and Coldplay.

The stadium also hosted an automotive event with the use of a temporary track during the 2015 Speedway Grand Prix of Australia where it featured the Motorcycle Speedway part of the event.

With an astonishing range of events being showcased here, this is definitely one of the ultimate entertainment venues in existence. So if you ever find yourself in Melbourne, be sure to keep an out for what’s happening at the Etihad Stadium.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Songkaran Festival Phuket – An Island Wide Water Fight

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Do you love waterfights? Do you consider yourself to be the best at it? Head over to Phuket, Thailand from April 13th to April 15th and take part in the island wide water fight, also known as Songkran Festival. This festival marks the start of the Thai New Year. Phuket is believed to be one of the most popular places to celebrate the Songkran festival in Thailand and if you’re looking for a luxury Phuket hotel to stay at during this time, such as Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, be sure to book well in advance! Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and is usually referred to as the Pearl of the Andaman.

If you plan on visiting the island during the time of the festival, make sure you’re not driving or riding a bike, as when water is thrown at you, your impulse would be to close your eyes, which could probably lead to a few crashes! So walk during the festival to wherever it is you need to go! Make sure you invest in a waterproof camera aswell, because there’s a high chance of ruining your non waterproof camera or phone – be prepared to be completely drenched in water. At times, the water is dyed with some coloured powder, so avoid wearing expensive clothes during the festival period. There are plenty of water guns for sale during this time, and don’t be surprised if you see a cop pointing one at you aswell! But don’t worry; you can drench them in water too, as they’ll most likely be doing the same to you!

During the Songkran festival, locals give thanks to Lord Buddha while visiting monasteries and temples and giving alms to monks. To cater to the large number of tourists attending the festival, there are also plenty of stalls selling clothes and local crafts.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Thailand as a Business Destination – Corporate Getaways in Asia

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AVANI Pattaya Resort & Spa - Rose Garden

Image Credit: AVANI Pattaya Resort & Spa

Is Thailand all about the sexy beaches, intriguing restaurants and bars and day tripping all around the country? Amidst all these temptations for the ideal vacation, one might wonder if Thailand is still a business destination where you could have a company retreat or a mere business meeting with high-end clients who needs to be impressed.

Despite the intriguing vacation landscape of Thailand, the economy of the country has been through a tremendous amount of change and today, country bears favourable opportunities for foreign investments. As one of the largest growing markets in the world, and as a member of the ASEAN region and its unforgettable vibrant consumer base, the country attracts a large number of international investors.

Nothing says a “stress free business meeting” like a meeting in Pattaya. If you do not wish to be amidst all the hustle and bustle, you can always go for options such as AVANI Pattaya Resort & Spa where you can still have a conventional business meeting with great views of the bay.

If you organize your business meeting in the off-peak period you can benefit not only from cheaper flights but also from reduced hotel rates. A business meeting over a pint or a game of tennis does sound more appealing than in an air-conditioned hall! With prices slashed during the off-peak season, you are able to enjoy that business meeting or retreat that is also the ultimate relaxed getaway.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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