Uluwatu is home to idyllic beaches, a sacred temple (Pura Luhur), and some prime surfing spots. Depending on what time of year you visit, you will also be treated to a fabulous array of local festivals that are wonderful to witness and participate in. Ensure you book one of the fine Bali luxury villas to host your stay in the area, and the Alila Villas Uluwatu features an excellent selection of choice Bali boutique villas. Celebrated all over Bali is the local version of Christmas, Galungan, which occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10. It commemorates and welcomes the gods and ancestors to earth to live at their descendants’ dwelling places. The festivities include dances, the purchase and wearing of new clothes, offerings at the temples in …

Organised to coincide with the Thai festival Songkran, the Phuket Bike Week is an event like no other and is quite a unique event for tourists to witness. This biking event is complete with a number of activities which include a Motorcycle Exhibition, a Beach Party, a Grand Dinner, Bike Contest, Miss PBW, a Tattoo Contest and many more and the variety of activities attract people from all walks of life who join together to celebrate their love of motorcycles. For those who wish to encounter this event, the Phuket Bike Week takes place at a myriad of locations but mostly on Patong Beach, a football field in the area and the Jungceylon Mega Mall. Of the myriad of activities available, the Motorcycle Exhibition attracts …

Droplets of golden sweat will glisten on brow and back while silver-blue splashes of cool water will dance to the rhythm of the moving hand at the Samui Triathlon that will take place in the bright heat of April in Samui, Thailand. The cheering spectators will witness the athletic forms of the competitors who will be participating in the Triathlon, striving hard to win the gold in cycling courses, swimming courses, and running courses. The Bicycle zone undoubtedly will be the centre of attraction, as wheels speed like the wind in Nathon. Much color will be added by the merchandizing zone and Animation zone which will be added on close to the Bicycle zone. The participants of the bicycle course will pedal a total distance …

The Balinese temples host an ‘Odalan’, every 210 days, on the day of the birth of the temple. It is a sanctimonious affair in which Hindus honour the Hindu gods by decorating the shrines. Tourists will enjoy experiencing the rich culture of Indonesia if they were to participate in the temple celebrations. Usually temple celebrations span over three days and the system used to calculate the day of the ceremony is the Full Moon calendar. Since the ceremony is a tribute to Hindu gods all of the shrines are decorated for this event. The Hindu gods’ figurines are adorned with colourful pieces of cloth and gold coins. In front of the shrine, depending on which gods are being worshipped, there will be black, red or …

Travellers visiting Wuhan in China are enthralled by its ability to demonstrate its old world charm intermingling with modernity. Wuhan is peppered with a number of attractions tailor-made for ardent explorers and is truly an intriguing place to visit for, regardless of when you visit this region, there will always be various festivals and events that allow tourists a valuable insight into the beautiful culture of the area. If you are thinking about visiting Wuhan early next year, the Chinese New Year celebrations are not to be missed! Join in the festivities as the locals’ herald the dawn of the New Year according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar with colourful dragon dances and rituals as well as the lighting of beautiful fire crackers and fireworks …

Festivals are unique expressions of a community’s or a country’s cultural traditions. There are seasonal festivals determined by lunar calendars and cycle of the seasons and festivals rooted in religious beliefs. People in Tianjin celebrate many such festivals that have been a part of their culture and beliefs for a very long time. Along with the whole of China, Tianjin celebrates the Spring Festival on Feb 13th, the first day of the first lunar month that is also Chinese New Years’ eve. Family members return home, exchange hongbao or red envelopes with money, remember their ancestors, give their houses a thorough clean up and partake of specially made holiday food. Dragon and lion dances, lantern parades, temple fairs are part of the festivities highlighted by …