Author Archives: pushpitha

Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall – The Mini Rattanakosin

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An interactive self-learning centre, The Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall has been built encompassing state of the art technology. The Hall exhibits information on the history, culture and art of the Rattanakosin area from its early inception in 1782. Equipped with 9 exhibition halls and 4D Multimedia technology, each of the rooms in the centre is dedicated to represent a part of the grandeur of the capital of Thailand the Rattanakosin.

Via the 4D multimedia facilities the centre successfully portrays the origins of the area. The Grand Palace and the famous Emerald Buddha statues are displayed on 4D down to the very last detail perfectly. A 360 degree multimedia demonstration depicts ancient forms of entertainment that existed in the area. Guests love the feeling of actually participating in the animation while it tours the island of Rattanakosin. You can also climb to the fourth floor of the building where you are greeted with a beautiful view of the Ratchadamnoen road along with sights of the metal castle known as the Loha Prasat and the Golden Mount.

The centre is open from Tuesdays to Fridays from 11. 00 am to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm. It closes on Mondays. Admission fee for adults is 100 Baht, children walk in free. It’s a great idea to visit the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall before you start on your journey around the island as you will be able to make a note of what you want to see and not see through the virtual tour.

Stay at one of the finest Bangkok serviced apartments while you fall head over heels in awe of this colourful city. Anantara Baan Rajprasong Bangkok is a conveniently located Sukhumvit Accommodation well known for its luxurious style and world class amenities which put you within easy reach of many of the attractions in the area. Along with 24 hour security and other facilities such as Jacuzzis and saunas, these apartments are a treat to one’s senses. Surrounded by lush greenery and a sophisticated neighbourhood these serviced apartments are the ideal place to relax while you explore this amazing city.

Chinatown Food Festival – A veritable feast for the senses

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This festival is not one just one for the taste buds, but a feast for all five senses. To truly soak up the amazing atmosphere that emanates from the location during this time of the year, one has to seek out a suitable Bangkok hotel to lodge in during the event. However this would not be an issue since Anantara Bangkok Sathorn is one of the most popular hotels Bangkok among those of who seek the true colours of culture during their travels.

The streets are practically glittering with life during these days while various aromas waft through the air making the mouths water. Music fills the ears while an immense assortment of delicacies adorn the streets, beckoning the passersby invitingly to have a taste of this delicious Chinese gastronomy so generously unveiled right in front of their eyes.

Songkran festival – Splash the sins away

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Although New Year was traditionally celebrated at the beginning of the year in 1888, April now marks the beginning of the year in Thailand since 1940s. Initially adopted from an Indian Festival this festival has been celebrated for centuries. The most colourful celebrations are held in Chiang Mai, where celebrations go on for about 6 days. It’s a great time for Tourists to bask in the sun along with the locals celebrating the festivities and associating local culture.

Most Buddhists visit monasteries and give food to the monks, cleanse Buddha images and with fragrant water, praying for good luck and prosperity during the dawning new year. Colourfully decorated sand sculptures are also a common site in monasteries. Much to the disappointment of traditional Thailanders, the emphasis has shifted to a more pleasurable aspect from the spiritual aspect of the festival.

Good Cheer follows throughout the streets as people throw water on one another and indulge in various religious activities. The water is meant as a way of washing all the sins away. Pageants and festivities crowd the streets making it a great time to travel to this amazingly colourful country. The festival is celebrated in different parts of Thailand in much the same way. Phuket is an exotic location in Thailand, popular among many travellers to the east, for its blend of culture, natural beauty and as an adventurous getaway. Retreats in Thailand celebrate the Songkran festival by decorating the atmosphere beautifully and celebrating with food and good cheer.

A famous Boutique Hotel in Phuket is the Tanyapura, Among other Retreats in Thailand this heavenly hotel has a charm of its own. This cosy hotel in Phuket offers mouth watering delicacies and amazing service standard within its elegantly and practically decorated premise. Providing a great base to enjoy the wonders of this tropical area from, this hotel offers star class service standards at a reasonable price. What more would you want from a holiday but to be a part of the fun, the frolic with its people and to enjoy the beauty of such exotic surroundings. All this and more can be experienced when you to travel to amazing Thailand.

Fun, thrills and surprises at the Dubai Summer Surprise

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With the Dubai Summer Surprises running in its 15th year, Dubai has been able to seal their place in the International Summer fun agenda.

Begun in 1998 in a bid to encourage friendly relations and added tourism revenue, the Dubai Summer Surprises is the summer extension of the Dubai Shopping Festival. During this Summer Surprise which runs for around 10 weeks each year, usually between the months of June and August, each week is dedicated to a different ‘surprise’ or theme.

These ‘surprises’ are varied and are decided by the government departments involved in the event. Some of these are the color surprise, art surprise, adventure surprise, heritage surprise, sweet surprise and the continuous finale – back to school surprise.

Whilst adults have shopping and other fun activities spread out across many of the malls in Dubai, the children have many exciting events lined up for them as well. This thought to provide events and programmes for both adults and children to enjoy, makes the Dubai Summer Surprise an ideal family event to participate in. The best aspect is that each day is an opportunity for a new surprise and new fun.

In fact the long standing mascot for the event is a giant smiley face named Modhesh which means amazing or exciting in Arabic. For the children, there is a special Modhesh Fun city located at the Dubai Airport Expo which is an area dedicated to fun surprises!

Since its inception in 1998, the Dubai Summer Surprise has grown in number as well as stature, bringing in over 4 million visitors as compared to the modest 600’000 visitors in its first edition. The event has succeeded in placing Dubai on the map as a summer destination which is ideal for the entire family.

If you plan to visit the city and are on the lookout for a Hotel in Dubai make sure that the Dubai Hotel you pick is conveniently located closer to the shopping malls, and entertainment areas. A look at the plan for the Dubai Summer Surprise event calendar for the year will greatly help. For luxury and comfort that is conveniently located the Raffles Dubai, UAE is an ideal venue.

Celebrate the Thai New Year at Songkran 2013

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Tipped to be one of the most colourful and engaging local festivals in Thailand, Songkran is an annual event of truly monumental cultural significance. Three months after the rest of the world celebrated the dawn of a new year, this vibrant festival harking in the new year in the month of April is one of the best reasons to head down to Bangkok this holiday season. Also known as the Thai Water Festival, the Songkran festival of 2013 is due to take place from the 13th to the 15th of April with the days declared a public holidays all across the great nation. Formerly calculated according to the Thai lunar calendar, the event is now marked according to the Georgian calendar and typically falls between the 13th and 15th of April every year.

Regarded as the most significant cultural event in the country, Thai residents around the country set aside these auspicious days to engage in conventional customs and rituals as well as enjoy one another’s company in an annual event that truly encapsulates the Thai spirit of togetherness.

Religious activities also hit an all time high during Songkran as Thais head to their local temples to pay their respects to Lord Buddha and bathe Buddha images as a mark of reverence. Cleansing Buddha images is also a practice that is common during this time of year while alms for Buddhist monks are also offered by pious devotees in temples or wats across Thailand. The street side water fights have also become an integral part of Songkran as a traditional ritual has transformed in to a national sport of sorts during the holiday season. In its heyday young Thais would pour water gently on elders to bless them and guarantee good fortune to the entire family for the coming year. This ritual has now evolved in to a larger than life street water fight with Thais hurling buckets of water on passersby and loved ones in the spirit of camaraderie.

Those visiting Bangkok this April can witness Songkran festivities at the national event in Rattankosin Island while the areas around Sanam Luang, Khao San Road and the Grand Palace also serve as focal points of the celebration. The statue of the Phra Budha Sihing will also be on show at Sanam Luang Park and visitors can join locals in bathing the famed image of Lord Buddha.

Travellers on the lookout for a stylish Sukhumvit hotel should look to the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok for all their accommodations. Ideally located in a picturesque landscape this Bangkok hotel is one of the finest rests in the Thai capital.

When Sri Lanka welcomes the Sinhala & Tamil New Year in April

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The period of transit from the last star sign to the first is supposed to be one of defame and bad luck and nothing auspicious is started during that period. In contrast, people try to engage in various religious activities or games and play items abstaining from their usual work, or studying or even for housewives their important household work.

The onset of New Year becomes visible even in the weather, as the days grow longer and warmer and sunnier while the mangoes and fruits like Cashew nuts become rounder and riper, their aroma drifting through the villages. The flower called ‘Erabadu’ is one blossom that fills the trees during this particular season and the faithful and timely crowing of the Cuckoo bird is also a sign that heralds the New Year.

A foreigner visiting Sri Lanka at this time around would do well to walk through the remote villages to find many of the authentic games and traditions of the island still being practiced diligently while a great number of games, from ‘Chak gudu’ to smaller games like ‘Pancha’ can be seen conducted by the young and old. At the end of the auspicious period, there are a number of auspicious times, to commence one’s important duties and a time to cook the first meal and a time to consume it together with the family. The aroma of sweet meats that are inherent to the New Year can be experienced coming from many a household. Sweetmeats like ‘Kevum’, the cracker like ‘Kokis’ the starchy sweet ‘Aluwa’ are just to name a few. There is a lot of sharing of food in the neighbor hood and children go around worshipping their elders while they give gifts for the children.

In Sri Lanka, Kalutara is a fairly village like yet rather urban town, where the practices of New Year are diligently performed. So many a Hotel in Kalutara also shares the festivities of the New Year with its patrons. Avani Kalutara Resort enjoys a spectacular location with one side overlooking the endless serenity of the Indian Ocean while the other side glances over the soft waters of the Kalu River. From among the many Beach Resorts Sri Lanka Kalutara, this is one that enjoys this privilege of being placed in this exotic location while providing contemporary conveniences and superb residing options to an international clientele.

Weddings in Hua Hin – A Magical Experience

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If you want to experience paradise on earth visit Hua Hin, one of the oldest towns that Thailand has. Hua Hin is absolutely beautiful and is known by many both locally and internationally as one of the most romantic destinations to host a wedding.

Hua Hin is a very small town. The town having a population of only around 70,000 gives it an authentic and un-spoilt charm. Way back in history Hua Hins unique beauty and serene ambience was recognized by royalty. King Prajadhipok somewhere in the early 1900 built his summer citadel in Hua Hin and named it the ‘Wang Klai Kang Won’ which is translated to ‘Far from Worries’; a perfect description to the tranquility one feels in Hua Hin. Whoever stayed in it, fell in love with it and hence it earned the reputation of love; a place, rather a paradise where one can celebrate the marital commitment of love. Lately having weddings in Hua Hin has become a trend. People from all around the world fly over to this quaint little town in Thailand to exchange their vows and celebrate the bonds of matrimony. Weddings in Hua Hin are like marrying in fairy land. The backdrop of nature is so blissful and the soothing ambience gives one the perfect foundation to a lifelong commitment in love. Hua Hins popularity gave rise to some of the most exotic hotels and resorts within the five mile immaculate beach. This gives couples the added advantage of luxurious banquet halls if you are more interested in a royal setting. The resorts also make a perfect honeymoon destination. After exchanging your vows at the hall or the perfect beachside, check into one of the resorts and experience the magic of love, luxury and comfort all in a single location.

Among the many magnificent Hua Hin hotels the Anantara Hua Hin Thailand Resort tops the charts. The setting in this resort is simply unmatched. It is exquisite, luxurious and perfect for romance. Guests at Anantara fall in love with the place as it stands proudly as the finest of all Beach Hotels Hua Hin Thailand has.

Sinhalees & Tamil New Year – The Time to Celebrate

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The month of April is the most celebrated month in the Sri Lankan calendar. It is a month for holiday, tradition, unity and pure cultural fun; the month of the renowned festival in the entire calendar; the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. A lot of astrological belief stands behind the significance of this festival. The period of the festival falls at the time when the sun moves from the House of Pisces to the House of Aries. On April 14th the sun stands directly above the island of Sri Lanka. The festival -known as Aluth Avurudu in Sinhala and Puththandu in Tamil- marks the end of the harvest season and commemorates the beginning of a new year in the Saka Era.

Culture comes alive during the auspicious time of this festival. Houses are cleaned and oil lamps are lit. Women adorn themselves in traditional attire, the colors of which are decided by the astrologers. In some areas of the island the Raban drum is given a big significance. Women from one neighborhood congregate in a single location and play upon the raban, traditionally this took place to bring awareness of change in the year. Fire is lit and Kiribath is prepared. Kiribath or Milk Rice is a traditional breakfast prepared in Sri Lanka on the morning of any auspicious occasion. It is certainly a must try for those visiting the island. The season of the festival also brings to the table an array of other local delights and sweets. These include Kavum, Kokis, Aluwa, Vali Thalapa and many more. By evening families leave their homes to visit friends and relatives. The New Year is one of the most unique and auspicious time for both the Sinhalese and Tamil race. They make business deals at this time, they start new resolutions and they celebrate. Sometime during the second and third day of the celebration ‘the avurudu Utsavaya’ takes place. This involves a lot of traditional games, competitions and fun.

Sri Lanka’s traditions come alive in different ways in different parts of the island. Shanti Travel Sri Lanka offers experience an exemplary quality of Sri Lanka Tour Packages. These holiday packages Sri Lanka has enables you to cover all there is to see in this beautiful island.

Songkran Festival – Be prepared to be douched in water

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Wreathed in festivities, colour and joy, the Songkran Festival celebrates the dawning of a new year in great ardour. Originally calculated according to the astrological charts, the dates have now been fixed between tyhe 13th and 15th of April. Visiting Thailand during this time of the year can be a unique experience and one of convenient Bangkok serviced apartments available within the area would be the ideal accommodation choice. Citadines Sukhumvit 11 Bangkok is a one of the best Sukhumvit serviced apartments available within the area conveniently located in the middle of all the hustle and bustle so that the visitors would not miss out on any of the fun. However, be prepared to be douched by buckets of water if one intends to roam the streets during this time as hurling bucketfuls of water at each other is a tradition fondly practiced by the Thais during this time of the year.

Ramadan Festival Maldives – The festival of the moon

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Also known as Rorda Mas, the Maldives Ramadan Festival is one that carries quite a lot of importance in the lives of Maldivians. Maldivian Muslims fast right through the month of Ramadan which falls on the 9th month of the Muslim calendar. This cultural event can only be fully experienced if the visitors lodge in one of the Maldives island resorts that are being raved about quite a lot. Naladhu Maldives is a Maldives Hotel that is popular among the many visitors that visit the country with the aim of participating in the country’s many colourful cultural events.

The festival begins with the occurrence of the moon and lasts till the appearance of the next moon. Right through this period, Muslims fast during the day time and due to this reason, all restaurants and eating places are closed during this time. Even working hours are altered during this time of the year for the convenience of the fasting Muslims.