World Events to Attend This October

October is one of the months when travelers take chance to unwind and rejuvenate as they travel to explore different places and indulge on various cultures. And as if as one to support this ideal, cities from all over the world hold colorful and spectacular festivals which travelers will surely enjoy. Some are as follows:


1. Haunted Pumpkin Garden (New York, USA)

[1] Source

Running all month long, travelers can experience a different kind of art at the Haunted Pumpkin Garden at New York City. The Botanical Garden is transformed into a spooky place as different pumpkin sculptures from master carver Ray Villafane are displayed for everyone’s amusement.


2. Auckland Diwali Festival (New Zealand)

[2] Source

Happening on October 19-20, the largest city of New Zealand turns into a huge bazaar as Indian residents celebrate the return from exile of Hindu God Rama. Streets are decorated with vibrant stalls selling crafts and Indian sweets. Bollywood dance performances and fireworks displays are also held.


3. Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Thailand)

[3] Source

One of the highlights of most Phuket Thailand tours, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is actually a period of ritual cleansing done by locals to ensure good health. During the festival which is happening on October 5-13, people abstain by meat. Other practices then include extreme body piercing, walking on coals barefooted, and climbing sword ladders.


4.  CowalFest (Scotland)

[4] Source

Aside from the rolling hills, witness the extravagant CowelFest when you visit the Scottish Highlands on October 4-13. The said event is a 10-day festival which allows trekkers to venture through 80 themed walking tours led by professionals. It’s a total of 56 miles to walk on!


5. Arts Crush (Seattle, WA)

[5] Source

 In Seattle, the month of October is exciting for the communities around the Puget Sound. Art events from music video shoots to kids’ art workshops are sponsored by these communities just to promote art to everyone.


6. International Guitar Festival of Seville (Spain)

[6] Source

People are serenaded on October 15-19 at Andalusia, Spain as the city celebrates the International Guitar Festival of Seville. Romantic tunes are performed on concerts and classes in this city where folk music originated.


7. Baltic Herring Fair (Helsinki, Finland)

[7] Source

On October 6-12, fly to Helsinki and visit the Market Square to take part in the Baltic Herring Fair. It marks the end of the fishing season since 1743 and it has been a tradition to celebrate the festival with songs, friendly cooking competitions and other festive activities.


8. Lords of Miracles (Peru)

[8] Source

In Lima, one of the biggest processions in the world is held from October 18-28. It is the Lords of Miracles, where a two-ton mural depicting Christ on the cross is paraded. This mural appeared after an earthquake almost destroyed the city on 1746. Many devotees then come to the capital of Peru to see this ‘miracle’ every October.


9. Times Cheltenham Literature Festival (London)

[9] Source

Paying tribute to the world of Literature, people who are into novels can fly to this city south of London to meet famous authors from October 4-13. It’s really a nice event held in a charming town!


10. Marwar Festival (India)

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See camels with tattoos at the Marwar Festival in Jodhpur. Witness the festival from October 17-18 and enjoy different activities including polo tournaments and folk dancing.


Listed above are just ten of the most famous festivals held on October. So what should you do? Check out the flight promos now and book for your tours. Don’t let the opportunity pass!


Sources:
[1] 2012 Giant Pumpkin Carving Weekend. 2012. The New York Botanical Garden. NYBG.org. Web. Oct 2013.
[2] Interesting Facts About Diwali Celebrations in 2013. 2013. Happy Diwali Wallpapers. Happydiwaliwallpapers.com. Web. Oct 2013.
[3] AsiaWebDirect. Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2013. 2013. Phuket Hotels & Travel Guide. Phuket.com. Web. Oct 2013.
[4] Cowal Fest Walkers. 2013. The Cowal Way. Cowalway.co.uk. Web. Oct 2013.
[5] Arts Crush Kick Off Fair 2013. 2013. Arts Crush. Artscrush.org. Web. Oct 2013.
[6] Seville International Guitar Competition. 2013. Zap Travel. Zaptravel.com. Web. Oct 2013.
[7] Helsinki Baltic Herring Fair 2013. 2013. Port of Helsinki. Portofhelsinki.fi. Web. Oct 2013.
[8] Castro-Mendivil, Enrique. The “Lord of the Miracles” procession in Lima. 18 Oct 2010. Peruvian Faithful Pay Homage to Lord of Miracles. Blogs.reuters.com. Web. Oct 2013.
[9] The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival Gallery. Cheltenham Festivals. Cheltenhamfestivals.com. Web. Oct 2013.
[10] The Colorful Marwar festival in Jodhpur. 2013. Travel Trance. Traveltrance.com. Web. Oct 2013.

Top 10 Places to Spend Chinese New Year At

As Chinese New Year 2013  fast approaches, more and more people are now panicking to get those cheap air tickets to their desired destinations. Some haven’t decided where to go to yet, though. So to help, here are the top 10 cities where extravagance is the constant theme for the festivity:


1. Singapore

As the whole street of Chinatown gets lovely with the red and yellow lanterns hanging, it also gets lively as music booms aloud as dragon and lion dancers parade around. People are given two days of holidays so getting it on with the party is permissible. Drinks and food are overflowing during the celebration.

Sources:
* Singapore Playground
* Singapore.com - Chinatown
* Asianewsnet


2. Beijing

Of course, nothing beats the original. As the capital city of China, many opt to come to the city in time for the Chinese New Year. The event is at its best at where it originated, after all. Dragon and lion dances are performed around the metropolis, as people come together to feast over good food and companies.

Sources :
* Saisnanjing
* Thesavoia.com
* WildChina.com


3. Hong Kong

You are in for some great fun when you buy Hong Kong air tickets in time for the CNY. The whole city is basically illuminated with fireworks to welcome the New Year, and music is loud – really loud. The festival lasts for 15 days. That’s exciting, right?

Source:
* Caffeinated Traveller - What to Expect This Chinese New Year in Hong Kong?


4. Vietnam

Instead of celebrating CNY, Vietnam holds the Lunar New Year – which is practically a version of the Chinese event. It lasts for 3-4 days as people come home to be with their families to have fun. Locals will then commonly clean houses and go for makeovers. It’s their way of starting anew, and that’s what New Year is all about for them. Vietnam tours offer spectacular experiences you may want to try.

Source:
* Xinhuanet.com


5. Sydney

With its celebration centered on Chinatown and the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour, you can expect that the celebration is one of a kind in Sydney, Australia. Markets and food stalls are set up and parades are held to contribute to the festive atmosphere.

Sources:
* Smoothfm.com.au
* English.sina.com


6. Paris

It might be quite surprising but yes, Paris celebrates the Chinese New Year. In fact, it is to be anticipated because the city lights up in color as people in colorful costumes parade around to distribute luck among everyone. The fireworks displays are superb too!

Sources:
* Citizenside.com - Chinese New Year Celebration in Paris Town Hall
* iFashion Blog


7. Los Angeles (USA)

This big city in California is home to many Chinese communities. Thus, it is of no wonder why Chinese New Year is greatly celebrated there. You should look forward to the Golden Dragon Parade which flaunts colorful floats and marching bands that certainly livens up the atmosphere. It runs along North Broadway to Chinatown.

Source:
* Just Luxe


8. Helsinki (Finland)

This city in Finland sure knows how to escalate the fun during the Chinese New Year. Having signed an agreement with Beijing, Helsinki shows traditional lion, dragon and butterfly dances on its streets. There are also operas depicting different battle scenes in the Chinese history. Lots of Chinese markets are organized too!

Sources:
* Helsinkippusa
* CNY Stage Performance in Helsinki


9. London

In Leicester Square and Chinatown, people come together to witness acrobatic shows, dragon dances, and traditional performances from Chinese artists during the Chinese New Year. It is surely an interesting feat as it flaunts the majestic fusion of Oriental and European cultures.

Source:
* Visit London : Chinese New Year in London


10. San Francisco (USA)

It is almost two centuries ago since San Francisco included the Chinese New Year in its heritage. The celebration in the city is considered one of the longest in the world. Aside from the typical parade, San Francisco also holds the Chinese New Year Flower Fair and Chinatown Community Street Fair.

Sources:
* Party Earth - Chinese New Year Parade & Festival
* BuiPhotos

January 2013 Celebrations to Look Forward To

January has kicked off and people are now beginning to busy themselves with planning their holiday trips for the year 2013, beginning with the hunt for cheap tickets. However, preparing for these grand vacations do not end with just wanting to travel. The optimum priority is, of course, the destination – which fun coincides with the different happenings that will happen in the place in time with the trip.

So what are the events across the globe, which are set to take place on January of this year?

1. Dunkirk Carnival

 If you are going to be in northern France on January 12 to March 30, you should not miss the chance of visiting one of the most extravagant and boisterous carnivals in the area, the Dunkirk Carnival. It is held to pay tribute to the heritage of the city which basically revolves around fishing and maritime industries.

Relevant Links:
*Travel Globe: What's on in Dunkirk France
*AgePhotoStock

2. Lowcountry Oyster Festival

If heading to South Carolina, make sure you’ll be there on the 27th as it is time for the Lowcountry Oyster Festival. There, you can suffice yourself with as many oysters as you can! That’s a whole lot of treat! Furthermore, the atmosphere is very festive as loud music plays during the event.

Relevant Links:
*Festival News: Lowcountry Oyster Festival, Charleston, South Carolina
 *Harbor Island Oyster: Worldwide Oyster Festival


3. World Buskers Festival

Total entertainment runs for ten days (January 17-27) at Christchurch, New Zealand everytime the World Buskers Festival is held there. You will surely have fun witnessing shows and performances from great street performers who will do comedy, fire shows, juggling, magic, and many more!

Relevant Links:
*New Zealand: World Buskers Festival
*Be There: World Buskers Festival

 
4. Winter Wineland

Craving for some delicious wine? Then attend the Winter Wineland in Northern Sonoma County, California from January 19-20. Winemakers and wine lovers come together at the Wine Road to celebrate the genius that is wine. Visit the different wineries and try the world’s best kinds.

Relevant Link:
*Epicuring: Annual Winter Wineland Sonoma
 

5. San Sebastián Street Festival

From January 17 to 20, Old San Juan is transformed into a very vibrant carnival that features revelers, rides, food stalls and live musicians to celebrate the San Sebastián Street Festival. The main attraction here is the grand parade along Calle San Sebastián.


Relevant Link:
*Legends of PR


6. Temple Bar Trad Fest

For six full days, Irish music is celebrated in Dublin through the Temple Bar Trad Fest. From January 22 to 27, people come together to see different local performers with world-renowned talents as they flaunt their talents.

Relevant Link: 
*Temple Bartrrad Schedule and updates


7. National Western Stock Show

 Experiencing the Wild Wild West is not difficult. You just have to visit Denver, Colorado from January 12-27 as it is during these dates when the National Western Stock Show is held. Bull ridings, rodeos, horse contests and show jumping are some of the main attractions which you’ll surely enjoy watching.

Relevant Link:
*Denverpost: National Western Stock Show Images


8. Hot Air Balloon Festival

Marvel on as colorful hot air balloons adorn the beautiful day sky at Château-d’Œx, Switzerland from January 26 to February 3. You can even ride one if you’re lucky! Afterwards, you can also visit the museum which features Montgolfier balloons.

*View more Images at AmusingPlanet: International Hot Air Balloon Festival


9. Gasparilla Pirate Fest

Turning into a pirate is quite easy at Tampa, Florida during the 26th of January. The main attraction here is the José Gasparilla, the world’s only fully-rigged pirate ship.

Relevant Links:
*Landosentinel: Gasparilla Pirate Fest in Tampa Florida
*Tampa Florida Photo Blog: José Gasparilla's Pirate Ship


10. January Basho

Flights to Tokyo will be more worth it if it coincides with the January Basho, happening on January 12-27. It is a unique event because it features sumo wrestling matches, and is actually the first of the six grand events for the year.

*View more Images at Jaydee Japan: Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament