Author Archives: auburn

Thailand as a Business Destination – Corporate Getaways in Asia

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AVANI Pattaya Resort & Spa - Rose Garden

Image Credit: AVANI Pattaya Resort & Spa

Is Thailand all about the sexy beaches, intriguing restaurants and bars and day tripping all around the country? Amidst all these temptations for the ideal vacation, one might wonder if Thailand is still a business destination where you could have a company retreat or a mere business meeting with high-end clients who needs to be impressed.

Despite the intriguing vacation landscape of Thailand, the economy of the country has been through a tremendous amount of change and today, country bears favourable opportunities for foreign investments. As one of the largest growing markets in the world, and as a member of the ASEAN region and its unforgettable vibrant consumer base, the country attracts a large number of international investors.

Nothing says a “stress free business meeting” like a meeting in Pattaya. If you do not wish to be amidst all the hustle and bustle, you can always go for options such as AVANI Pattaya Resort & Spa where you can still have a conventional business meeting with great views of the bay.

If you organize your business meeting in the off-peak period you can benefit not only from cheaper flights but also from reduced hotel rates. A business meeting over a pint or a game of tennis does sound more appealing than in an air-conditioned hall! With prices slashed during the off-peak season, you are able to enjoy that business meeting or retreat that is also the ultimate relaxed getaway.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Chumphon Marine Festival – The Incredible Chumphon Marine Festival

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If you have heard of Thailand you will be aware that this nation has some of the most unique and astonishing festivals in the world, such as the city-wide water-fight that is referred to as the Songkran festival. The Chumphon Marine festival is an equally incredible concept and is definitely something that should not be missed if you happen to be here during the season. There’s many a Sathorn Bangkok hotel to choose from in the nearby area such as the Anantara Sathorn Bangkok Hotel.

The goal of the festival is to promote marine tourism while also carrying out some seriously eco-friendly activities in the process. One of the most incredible highlights of the 2016 festival were the sand-related art that was featuring ranging from incredibly breathtaking drawings to sand sculptures of various icons that are relevant to the ten ASEAN countries as well as the Chumphon province itself.

There are many mini-festivals that take place during the course of this larger parent festival. If you enjoy seafood, there’s a massive seafood festival that takes place as part of the Chumpon Marine Festival where you can feast on a variety of seafood dishes prepared according to a range of styles. There’s even a kite-festival that happens which is sure to be a sight to behold.

The most remarkable activities are the ones that positively impact the marine environment. Not only does the festival result in large-scale beach clean-ups, but it organises operations involving divers who rid the ocean depths of garbage, since Chumphon is considered one of the best diving spots in Thailand. During the festival, rare and endangered marine creatures are also released back into the ocean in order to boost their numbers. These usually mark the end of conservation projects to breed certain species.

So if you’re in Thailand during this time, be sure to experience the astonishingly positive Chumphon Marine Festival.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Moon Festival a Burst of Culinary Creativities – Treats, Snacks, and Mooncakes

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The Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a Chinese harvest festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. It is generally celebrated during the last week of September or early October and includes a multitude of colorful cultural celebrations which can also be experienced on Bangkok cruises, such as those offered by Anantara Cruises, Thailand. The Moon Festival is celebrated in Thailand as well, and one of the fascinating features about the celebrations is the culinary delights.

Mooncakes

You can’t celebrate the Moon Festival without making Mooncakes – at least that’s what Thai tradition dictates. Thus, Mooncakes are considered to be one of the main culinary creations during the Moon Festival. Mooncakes are essentially thin-crust pastries wrapped around a sweet filling of sweet bean paste, lotus seed paste, and egg yolk. Although this is how Mooncakes are traditionally made, modern spins on Mooncake include chocolate Mooncakes and many other delicious creations. Almost all stores sell Mooncakes during the Moon Festival, so make sure you try one.

Snails for Brightness, Taro for Luck and Pumpkin for Health

The foods made during the Moon Festival are considered to have some symbolic meaning. For example, river snails cooked in herbs and spices is said to brighten your eyes, while Taro corns are said to bring good luck. Thus, you shouldn’t be too surprised if you find snails and Taro in various snacks and dishes during the Moon Festival. Pumpkin is considered to bring good health during the festival, so pumpkin is quite common during the Moon Festival too.

Duck, Crab, and much more!

Additionally, you can expect to have various dishes of duck and crab, as they are specialty meats during the Moon Festival. Fruits such as watermelon and pears are in abundance during the festivities too, while Osmanthus-flavored cake and wine is the dessert of choice during the Moon Festival.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan – Party On, Till the Break of Dawn!

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All the way back in 1985, a group of tourists discovered one night that the most beautiful full moon to be seen in all of Bali was to be found in Koh Phangan. This was the birth of the now infamous full moon party. Tourists and party-goers from all over the world fly down to this party central island, looking for an escape from their daily routines and dull city lives. The shores of Bali’s islands are lined with budget, rustic style accommodation. However, if you’re looking for a luxury resort, Koh Phangan still has quite a few to boast, such as the Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas and numerous others

The party usually takes place either just before, on the night of or right after the full moon of each month. Despite starting as a thanksgiving for a small bunch of around 20-30 travellers, the full moon party in Koh Phangan now draws in approximately 5,000-30,000 travellers every month.

The party starts around sunset when the moon begins to emerge over the powdery sandy beaches and goes on until the sun rises the following day. As the skies darken, tables are kept along the beach with thousands of lamps lit across. As the party advances into the night, DJs take turns to give the crowd the kind of music they want, ranging from reggae, dance, R&B / Hip Hop, drum and bass to house, trance, psychedelic and electronic music. Firework displays take place throughout the night, whilst jugglers and fire-eaters are around for extra entertainment.

Amidst all this ongoing party aura, when you feel like you need to perhaps slow down and chill a little, several vendors in the area provide for snacks and simple meals to munch on. Grab a drink and a bite and maybe lounge around or even go for a quick dip before you head back into the party, loaded with more energy!

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Corporate Events & Meeting Facilities in Siem Reap – Gateway to the temples of Angkor.

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Reception of Anantara Angkor Resort

Siem Reap is a major tourist hub located in northwest Cambodia. Its claim to fame is that it is the closest city to the world famous temples of Angkor. The city of Siem Reap shares its name with province to which it belongs. The name translates to ‘Siamese defeated’ a reference to the defeat of the army of the Thai kingdom at the hands of the Khmer Empire, in the 17th century.

The past fifteen years have turned the city into one that is bustling with tourist activity. Earlier, it was an isolated location that catered to the few hardy backpackers with only the odd budget hotel, today it is home to the Anantara Angkor Resort.

Culture junkies and history buffs descend on Siem Reap on their way to ruins of Angkor Wat. The temples along with the 12th century Angkor Thom Royal City have been accepted as the main reason tourists visit the once quiet Cambodian town but of late a good many corporates around the world also seek out meeting venues in Siem Reap.

Lonely Planet calls Siem Reap Cambodia’s epicentre of chic. Property values have risen steeply and tourism, both business and leisure, has become a widely profitable industry. Business travellers now have all the modern conveniences laid on along with a host of meeting and conference facilities, restaurants and spas.

The Siem Reap International Airport sees more traffic than any other airport in the country. The increasing volume of business travellers has created a demand for higher quality airport features; upgrades to airport lounges and other facilities are being implemented as a result. Siem Reap is enjoying the monumental shift in its economic fortunes but it has retained the pleasant air of a charming small town.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Annual Festival of Traditional Kites in Bali – Witness the magic of Bali’s windy season

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The annual Kites Festival in Bali takes place between July and August starting from the windy season which is ideal for kiting. The festival comprises of a series of kiting events held in different locations favourable for kiting. Kite festivals are one of Bali’s top listed annual events with excellent cultural shows and social gatherings taking place simultaneously during the festive period. The top kite festival events are held mostly along the eastern coast of Padanggalak, north of Sanur. The preliminary rounds begin towards the end of June and confirmed based on weather patterns. Therefore, the event dates are mostly announced on the last minute. Hundreds of professional and amateur kiting teams and individuals as well as tons of fans flock to these venues from all over Bali to proudly fly their modern and traditional kites both large and small. The variety of colours, shapes and designs that can be witnessed during the kite festival time is spellbinding. Visitors travelling here during the festival time can look to stay at a villa Bali Seminyak has to offer such as those available at Samaja Villas Kunti.

It all began as a seasonal agrarian festival to thank the heavens for the blessing of abundant crops and harvests. However, before long it was transformed into a communal youth groups’ competitive kite flying event where the teams participate and compete for prize money from sponsors. Some of the categories of competitions held include ‘new creation’ kites including detailed 3D figures and designs, Hindu gods’ portraits, cars and motorbikes and mascots. Each group is accompanied by a gamelan orchestra that brings out the joyous spirit and mood of celebration and cheer. The drama associated with the take-off and landing sequences of kites is extremely fantastic to watch. Witness the colourful skies dominated by flying giants during the epic Bali Kites Festival and be part of the Bali windy season magic.

 

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Planning the perfect event in Sri Lanka – A place for any type of Event

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Located just below the southernmost tip of India is the panoramic island of Sri Lanka. A tropical paradise like no other, Sri Lanka has been mesmerizing countless generations of people with her lush rainforests, unspoiled beaches, picturesque mountains and rich cultural heritage. With a whole variety of vastly different locales to choose from in such a small landmass, Sri Lanka is a place that can be used to accommodate a wide variety of events.

To hold any event, one would first require a venue and some sort of accommodation, which Sri Lanka has a lot for you to choose from. The most popular category of choice are Sri Lanka resorts since they are generally always located at a picturesque beach-front, while there are plenty of metropolitan options available as well. Citrus Leisure boasts a variety of hospitality options available in Sri Lanka, ranging from beach-side resorts to elegant institutions of luxury at the heart of the city.

Due to the romantic nature of the island’s scenery, Sri Lanka is an ideal place to hold a wedding or a honey-moon excursion. Sri Lanka has many experienced wedding planners available to ensure you get the magical experience that you deserve. The island would also be an ideal location to hold annual corporate vacations and important business meetings. The great outdoor environments of the island are sure to ease and calm people to ensure they can focus on the meeting itself, by ensuring they don’t get too preoccupied. There are also various adventure-organizations that provide to strengthen morale or simply have a good time away from the corporate place by participating in games such as football and tap rugby.
If you have an international event to organize and are looking for a destination, then the Island of Sri Lanka may just be the place for you.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Bali International Triathlon- Swim , Bike and Run in Paradise

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Bali is one of the most visited exotic islands in the far East Asia , world famous for its sandy beaches and lavish luxury , Bali has always been a prime vacation spot among tourist. Staying at a luxury hotel Bali has to offer would be the perfect start to your holiday. A bespoke hotel of such a caliber is InterContinental Bali Resort , which overlooks the Jimbaran Bay, and has well appointed rooms to offer lavish luxury to its guests.

Known better as the Herbal life Bali International Triathlon, the event is scheduled to take place on the 15th of October 2015. First ran in 2007, the event has won global recognition and one of the prestigious awards under its belt is the title of , “Best Destination Triathlon“. The growing popularity has seen the number of participants grow annually. The numbers are expected to grow this year as well with the number of participants expected to grow up to 1000 participants from over 30 countries including around 500 from Indonesia.

The event comprises of a full Olympic Triathlon, a half Triathlon and a 5 Km fun run. The event is heavily backed by the hotels and businesses of Jimbaran Bay. The event commences shortly after sun rise with a swim in the Jimbaran Bay followed by a bike sprint to Nusa Dua and the event ends with a Road race.

There is also the popular “Race central” which marks the start and finish of the race located within the gardens of the InterContinental hotel premises. There is live entertainment all morning long and vendors with food and drinks.

The title sponsor of this grand scale event is Herbal Life Indonesia. The registration for the event is possible via the online application.

 

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.

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Macau Culture: A vibrant blend of East and West

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Poised in the tip of a small peninsula that lies at the western shore of the great Pearl River Delta, opposite Hong Kong; Macau is a wonderful fusion of the East and the West. You can witness this delightful amalgamation of cultures everywhere in the places you will visit, the delicious food you will taste and the vibrant festivals that you will attend.
For travelers searching for hotels in Macau, it is important that the hotel is located close to places and attractions of cultural importance. Thus, the Starworld Macau Hotel is an ideal option as it within easy distance of Macau’s major cultural attractions such as the Ruins of St. Paul’s, A-Ma Temple, Senado Square and the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf.

Since the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th Century, Macau has seen an incredible blend of Portuguese and Chinese culture. The Ruins of St. Paul’s and the A-Ma Temple are excellent examples of this. The Ruins of St. Paul’s belong to what were originally the St. Paul’s College and the Cathedral of St. Paul founded by Jesuits at the service of the Portuguese. The Ruins of St. Paul are listed as a part of the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The A-Ma Temple, one of the oldest and most famous Taoist temples in Macau, is another landmark of Macau that is of much cultural significance. Comprising of an ancient architectural complex, the temple portrays a rich array of Chinese culture with classical Chinese architectural treasures such as a pair of magnificently carved guard stone lions.

A fun way to experience the culture of Macau is by paying a visit to the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. At this theme park, which is Macau’s first-ever, you will get a chance to experience Macau’s culture with the many themed attractions. Stroll down Senado Square and taste the fusion flavors Macanese cuisine that is a blend of southern Chinese and Portuguese. Munch on the icon-food of Macau, the famous Portuguese egg tarts, the Pork chop bun and Minchee.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Bangkok International Fashion Week – Celebrating Thai Fashion in Style!

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Whether you opt to visit the Thai capital of Bangkok in January or June, the likelihood of an exciting event taking place during your stay is quite likely for Bangkok is a city filled with life. While the Thai celebrate their own traditional holidays, they do not shy away from celebrating holidays of foreign cultures. For those visiting Bangkok in January and February, the Bangkok Fringe Festival will provide a wonderful insight into the traditional dance and music of the sub-continent and the Chinese New Year is bound to be an exciting event with firecrackers, lanterns and dragon dances.

Taking a Bangkok cruise tour during such a celebration is likely to be surreal experience as one can observe the skies above and the water below mirroring the array of colours created by fireworks displays. Such tours can be facilitated by local hotels as well as service providers such as Anantara Cruises. While other cultural events such as the Makha Bucha which is a religious holiday, Chakri Day and Songkran take place, fashion shows are also featured activities on the Bangkok calendar. The Elle Fashion week, for instance, has been held in Bangkok since 1999 while the Bangkok International Fashion Week takes place in mid March.

The Bangkok International Fashion Fair will take place from 11-13 March this year at IMPACT in Bangkok alongside the Bangkok International Leather Fair 2015. The Fashion Week is scheduled to present a number of catwalk shows by Thai designers over four days thereby providing an opportunity for new and raw talent to exhibit their designs and gain international exposure.

A number of the designers who are scheduled to launch their new clothing lines have already been successful internationally and their latest styles are looked forward to by the locals. While tickets must be obtained to view the shows, usually, if you are lucky, you may be able to snag a coveted public seat to witness the unfolding of the latest fashion in Thailand.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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