Sri Lanka is a beautiful island paradise that has to be on a travellers list. Without this place, any list is deemed incomplete. The people, the culture and so much more is something all tourists look forward to. Through not hailing from a Christian culture, Sri Lanka has strong influences of the Christianity and Catholicism due to colonial rule that governed the island in the past. There is a rich heritage left behind and therefore many Sri Lankans today celebrate the globally renowned festival of Christmas. Christmas in Sri Lanka is a great time of the year owing to the wonderful tropical climate and beautiful island. Christmas and New Year celebrations happen mostly on beachside simply because Sri Lanka is an island paradise and surrounded …

Renowned as Asia’s Christmas epicenter, the metropolitan landscapes of the Lion City transforms into a winter wonderland, come the month of December. Perfectly suited for those who wish to spend a Christmas in a tropical paradise, the month-long programme of festivities organized by the city this year offers visitors from around the world a rage of yuletide attractions infused with plenty of Christmas spirit. One of the must-have experiences in Singapore during the Christmas season is of course a tour of the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ “Walk the Trees of the World” enclosure where the pathway from the Bandstand to the Tanglin Core showcases an impressive 200 Christmas trees. Dubbed “tropical” Christmas trees, the elaborately decorated trees each represent a culture and country displaying the national …

Writers festivals are a great way to promote literature and writing by bringing together writers and the public through a series of literary events. The Singapore Writers Festival is such an event that has been taking place since 1986 when it was known as Singapore Writers Week. It is now an annual event held under the aegis of the National Arts Council promoting new Singaporean and Asian writers in the country’s three official languages of English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, a rare multi-lingual literary event with a diversity of themes and topics. The event also puts Singaporean book-lovers in touch with new and established international writers for a truly global perspective. The 2013 event is scheduled to take place over 10 days in November and …

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej very much loved by the good people of Thailand is considered as the Father of the Thai Nation. It is on his birthday, 5th of December that is celebrated as a public holiday commonly referred to as the Nation’s Father’s Day. There are many Bangkok serviced apartments from where one could observe this national holiday but choose a comfortable serviced apartment in Bangkok such as the exclusive Ascott Sathorn Bangkok to ensure a comfortable stay. On this day of many celebrations which is also considered as Thailand’s National Day, households, private and public companies, streets and monuments are decorated with lights in true festive spirits. Sometimes also fondly referred to as  Pho Lhuang – Royal Father,  His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej will make a …

With endless street entertainment, music, fun and fancy dress parades the Halloween festival in Sheffield is happening back again. It is the time when days get shorter and nights get longer. According to locals this extravaganza, is Britain’s top Halloween carnival, drawing over thousands of locals as well as tourists to Sheffield city center. If you are heading over to England this season the Halloween festival in Sheffield is worth experiencing. This colourful celebration is always staged on a Sunday before Halloween. And this year it will be held on the 27th of October. Last year Halloween festival that took place in Sheffield was a big success. It included many fun and exciting attractions like fancy dress catwalk, urban dances, uncle fester on his moving …

The colourful celebration of Deepavali is one of the most significant festivals for Hindu communities around the world. The Hindu faithful form a significant proportion of the residents of Singapore and are concentrated in the neighbourhood of Little India. Deepavali or the Festival of Lights as the occasion is also known occurs in the latter part of the year and is much looked forward to. The festival celebrates good overcoming evil and the victory of light over darkness. There are many legends associated with this occasion. The story goes that there was once a tyrannical ruler called Narakasura who oppressed his subjects. The people appealed to Lord Krishna for help and the deity duly vanquished and killed the tyrant. To welcome the victorious Lord Krishna …