The annual Miss World Pageant takes centre stage this September with pomp and splendour as contestants from eighty one nations are expected to flock to Indonesia where one of them will be crowned “Miss World 2013”. While the history of the competition can be traced back to 1951 where the first pageant was conducted as part of the Festival of Berlin, now, over half a century later, the pageant still continues to attract contestants from all parts of the world. As a result, the 2013 edition will witness delegates from states such as Brunei, Guinea, Uzbekistan and even Kosovo. It is also the first time Indonesia will host the pageant and it is also the first time a Southeast Asian nation has been selected to …

The Manchester Pride is an annual festival that celebrates gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual life. The festival has been held for many years, although it only started to gather steam in 2003. Since then, the event has raised over one million pounds for a variety of charitable causes. It is a fun, energetic event and all those who happen to be in the region should try to attend it. In 2013, the festival will last eight days. As usual, the annual event will feature the Big Weekend and a colourful parade (on the twenty fourth of August). One need not purchase tickets to watch the parade as it is open to everyone. This year’s parade theme is ‘Acceptable in the 80s?’, and will focus on …

Suzhou, the city famed as the “silk capital” attracts thousands of people in September for an astonishing festival. That is none other than the vibrant Suzhou International Silk Festival. It is an annual fest celebrated from the 25th of September to 20th of October. During this time period Suzhou celebrates hosting temple fairs, cultural and art festivals, silk garment exhibitions, fashion performances accompanied by a distinguished symphony orchestra and many more lively activities that are linked with the art of silk. For centuries the area has been appreciated for its high quality silk, so no visit to the town is complete without stopping at a silk shop. It still remains as the hub of the national silk industry. This extravagant festival would definitely give you …

Due to take centre stage on the 18th of September this year, the 2013 edition of the Miss World beauty pageant is set to take place in the sunny landscapes of Indonesia’s holiday capital Bali. As the world’s most watched and coveted beauty pageant, the Miss World contest is a global brand with its very own fan following as the pageant and the weeks leading up to it are made into a television series by producers of the glamorous event. While the Sentul International Convention Centre in the Nusa Dua Complex is the official venue of the final crowning ceremony the stunning contestants hailing from over 150 nations across the world will take part in a series of mini-pageants in the weeks leading up to …

Southern New Zealand houses some spectacular natural beauty, which has made it one of the best adventure capitals and nature-lovers’ paradises in the world. Nestled in the beautiful Queenstown area, nature-enthusiasts will find a superb range of Queenstown hotel accommodation to choose from. Offering stylish modern apartments with modern amenities is the Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview – a quality New Zealand Queenstown hotel to stay at when visiting the area. Independent movie lovers will love the visual offerings of the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival, when the exquisite rugged terrain of the southern alpine region is translated onto the big screen. Participants and movie-lovers will enjoy the international and local adventure film prizes, which will snag them prizes of over USD 3000 in cash! Enjoy live music, …

A traveller rarely gets the opportunity to get an insight to the media industry of a destination, which is why Shanghai TV Festival is one event not to b missed when in the city. Shanghai executive apartments at a reputed Shanghai serviced residence such as Somerset Xu Hui Shanghai make for a ideal accommodation choice which will provide ease in experiencing various local events including Shanghai TV Festival itself. Having become Asia’s most prestigious and influential international TV festival, STVF strengthens the communication and cooperation between the world and Chinese media industry. The event presents due recognition and awards to the best television series, television film, best director and various other categories. Dating back to 1986, STVF is a celebration of Chinese media. Thanuja Silva …