Due to take place on the 25th of February 2013, Thailand’s Maka Bucha Festival is an annual religious festival of truly grand proportions. Marked on the full moon of the third lunar month this auspicious religious event commemorates the birth of the Buddhist order of monks and is also known as Sangha Day in other Buddhist nations across Asia. A red letter day in the Buddhist calendar the yearly festival celebrates the founding of the Buddhist monastic order collectively known as the Sangha and the hallowed day on which it was established. Religious scripture dates the event nine months following the enlightenment of Lord Buddha when a record 1250 monks gathered in one location to spontaneously chant a sermon in his lordship’s honour. This is …

While the Northern hemisphere is knee deep in layers of snow during the height of winter, the island nation of New Zealand, nestled just beyond Australia in the Southern hemisphere enjoys the best that summer has to offer. Fondly known by its citizens as the Paradise of the Pacific, the landscape of the island comes alive during this season and makes summer in New Zealand a truly magnificent experience. Summer in New Zealand is never static and is definitely never boring for there is always something happening. The Inter-islander Summer Festival Greymouth Races is simply one such example of the many attractions that has tourists flocking to the Paradise of the Pacific. The most recently concluded races were held a mere five days into the …

Held at the Qurum Natural Park in Oman scheduled for the 7th of February, the Oman food festival is a much- awaited event that takes place this February 2013. The festival runs in association with chefs and students of the Oman Tourism College, and it allows visitors to the fair to enjoy the best of authentic Oman cuisine. This year’s food festival will be held on the 7th of February. Provided you like trying something different, if you are a complete foodie, or even if you are just interested in trying out local cuisine you are sure to love the experience of the food festival, as locals and tourists bounce about the festivities. Dishes such as the traditional Shua; a preparation of meat cooked underground, …

Separated by a strip of peninsular, Had Rin Nok and Had Rin Nai are two entirely different beaches on two sides of the island peninsular of Ko PhaNgan in South Thailand. Had Rin Nai also known as Sunset Beach is the quieter and peaceful of the two, boasting of resorts and more family friendly accommodation options. This stretch of coast is considerably narrower than its twin and the sand slightly rough to the touch, while the sea is considerably shallower during the off season time. In contrast, Had Rin Nok, known as Sunrise Beach, is a thriving, bustle of activity, home to the famous Full Moon Party that is held every month around the time of the full moon. Clubs and backpacker accommodation line the …

A harvest festival that has its origins in South India, Thai Pongal is a thanksgiving festival held in honour of the Sun God Surya. Occurring every year from January 13th to the 15th, the timing of Thai Pongal is calculated according to astronomic events. The festival coincides with the movement of the Sun to Makaram or Capricorn. During this auspicious celebration, houses are decorated with banana and mango leaves while intricate and coulourful patterns called ‘Kolams’ decorate the floor. Boiling of milk and its spilling over is a significant tradition during the Tamil Thai Pongal. It represents abundance and prosperity that will be plentiful in the household. While the milk spills over people shout ‘Pongalo Pongal’ and watching the milk spill over is thought to …

As for everyone, the New Year is a season of festivity and celebration for the Chinese communities as well. Even though the Chinese people living in Paris are away from their homeland they do not forget or abandon the day without any kind of festivity. Just like in their nation the Chinese communities get together and shake the Paris streets with their many vibrant cultural events that take on till dawn. In 2013 they will organized this event just as they did in the past years may be in a much grandeur scale. This event has become one of the most loved and popular events of the year that has grabbed the attention of people from around the world. The Parisians crowd the roads of …