Author Archives: auburn

Australia Day Celebrations in Dubbo

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It’s with much fun and celebrations that the charming city of Dubbo celebrated Australia Day, the country’s official national day, on the 26th of January.

Australia Day marks the anniversary of the arrival of 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and raising of the Flag of Great Britain at that site by Governor Arthur Phillip. In modern times, the national day of Australia is celebrated with community and family events such as outdoor concerts, community barbecues, sports competitions, festivals and of course spectacular displays of fireworks!

Dubbo’s Australia Day celebrations kicked off at Victoria Park situated just approximately 20 minutes away from one of Dubbo’s accommodation hotspots, the Sundowner Dubbo Aberdeen Motor Inn. There were a wide array of festivities that took place ranging from formal activities like the raising of the Australian flag, National Anthem performance by Sing Australia, and the cutting of the Australia Day Cake; to the informal and fun activities such as various entertainments and even a free sausage sizzle!

Jakarta Night Festival : Welcome the New Year with Party and Style

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The Jakarta Night Festival is an annual event held to welcome the New year in style and celebration. The Jakarta Culture and Tourism Agency will host the annual Jakarta Night Festival along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin on 31st December with more than 100 performers who will take to 12 stages in different locations. If you wish to begin the New Year with endless excitement you can join the celebrations at the Jakarta Night Festival. All you have got to do is plan your stay at a hotel such as Alila Jakarta which will also gift you the best Hotel Rates Jakarta has to offer.

The Jakarta Night Festival which started in 2012 begins at 4 pm on 31st December and goes on until midnight. Generally the stages would be constructed starting from the National Monument (Monas) area to Dukuh Atas in Central Jakarta so that it does not disrupt the mass rapid transit construction project. The celebrations will also be held at different locations, including at Taman Impian Jaya Ancol theme park in North Jakarta, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) cultural park in East Jakarta and the Old Town in West Jakarta. The cultural park would host a traditional puppet show to entertain visitors which will be held all night long. The Jakarta Night Festival would also feature small and medium enterprises that would display their products in designated tents. More than 150,000 people are expected to welcome the New Year at the park, which is set to brighten the sky with 4,000 fireworks located in three main spots. The main event, the countdown to the New Year, takes place at the roundabout, Bunderan of the Hotel Indonesia area which is located right in the center of Jakarta’s main avenue.

Partygoers who rely on public transportation can still take the commuter line as trains will operate as usual on New Year’s Eve. Plan out to welcome the next year at the Jakarta Night Festival which will definitely be an unforgettable experience.

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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Balinese Dances and Dramas – A Secret and Exotic Art

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Located in South Bali is the beautiful coastal town of Seminyak. Known for being one of the most developed and exclusive areas of Bali, Seminyak is home to some of Bali’s more popular beaches and temples such as Seminyak Beach and the Pura Petitenget Temple. Seminyak is also known for its luxury accommodation and Bali 5 star resorts such as the W Retreat & Spa Bali Seminyak.

The Balinese people are known for their rich heritage and culture, and one aspect of this is their native dance and drama. Balinese dance and drama is an ancient art known for incorporating religious expressions and cultural symbolism. Being passed down from generation to generation, Balinese drama and dance is quite a secretive art, with only the practitioners of these arts knowing its full depth. Yet visitors to Bali will be able to witness these amazing and exotic performances which are both exciting and captivating.

Balinese dances and drama are greatly influenced by Hinduism. Hence many of these performances have traditional ritualistic values. Each dance or drama expresses Hindu rituals or depicts a tale in Hindu folklore. Thus these dances incorporate decretive costumes, elaborate head masks, interpretative and articulate expressions using the eyes, mouth, fingers, hips and feet. Balinese drama and dance also uses the unique technique of using various body parts to create layered percussive sounds, to set the rhythm and speed of a dance or drama. Some of the most popular Balinese dramas and dances include The Ramayana; a slightly different depiction of the Hindu legend of King Rama’s defeat of Rahwana, the Barong Dance; a dance depicting the battle between the Forest God Barong and Rangda, the Legong Keraton; a graceful interpretative dance depicting the tale of Rangkesari.

Balinese dances and drama is both illustrative and creative, and is known for gripping its audiences with its exotic depictions, smooth and silky movements and powerful storytelling, and is thus worth exploring while in Bali.

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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Diving and Resort Travel Expo

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The big blue sea is filled with both mystery and beauty…If you are staying in a Wan Chai Hotel Hong Kong like the Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong here’s the perfect opportunity for you to glimpse into the world underneath the waves. Be there at the biggest diving exhibition in Asia, the Diving and Resort Travel Expo. Held from the 12th to the 14th December this year at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, the DRT Expo has several VIP speakers such as Photographer/Writer, Mr. Jun V Lao from the Philippines and Mr. Jasper Wan, SEA&SEA Brand Manager/Photographer from Hong Kong. Diving & Resort Travel Expo is China’s only dedicated international trade conference networking and consumer dive event. CDEX showcases a wide range of international brands, technical developments and market opportunities within the dive industry.

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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Koh Phangan Full Moon Party; The party of a lifetime

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The world famous Full Moon Party originally began when a group of tourists arranged a part on the Haad Rin beach to celebrate the most beautiful Full Moon night they had seen, with the best view of the moon. Since then the crowds at the Full Moon parties has increased from 5,000 to up to 30,000 people. If visiting one of these parties is on your list of attractions when visiting Thailand, look for a hotel in Samui as it is just a short ferry ride to the party. A recommended hotel would be the Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort & Spa, known for its luxury and ambience.

The Full Moon party usually begins at dusk, when the full moon makes an appearance and as the night progresses, the beach becomes heaven for visitors looking to dance the night away. With up to 5 different stages, playing a variety of music, from trance, drum and bass, techno, reggae, and commercial dance, there will be music to suit everyone’s needs. Fire-eaters and jugglers both entertain and add to the wild ambience and you may even be so lucky as to witness an impromptu pyrotechnic display of fireworks. Most party-goers find the time to paint themselves with glow in the dark pain, to add to the unique experience of a Full Moon party.

If partying the entire night isn’t your cup of tea, then feel free to fall asleep on the beach and wake up to the beautiful sunrise, or even visit one of the beach traders selling a variety of food, or take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Once the sun rises, and the party is over, it isn’t difficult to look forward to relaxing on the sandy white shores of a pristine beach the next day, and Koh Phangan is one of the few places in the world where you can party all night yet relax on such a pristine beach.

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+

Bendigo Fashion Festival

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An event which was first held in 2007, Bendigo Fashion Festival enters its eighth year in 2014. Focusing on developing Bendigo as the region’s fashion and retail hub, the festival lures in hordes of visitors from the region and beyond, each year. Being a city reputed for its arts, culture, events and retail scene, Bendigo aptly plays host to this annual event which is set to take place from the 24th of September to 10th of October 2014 at Bendigo CBD. Deemed one of the most stylish exhibitions in the world, it is a must visit for Fashionistas heading to the region during this period. Stay at a centrally located hotel such as Sundowner Bendigo Golden Reef to experience the festival at ease.

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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Asian Glassware Trends Show

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A four day event scheduled to take place from the 20th to the 23rd of October 2014, Asian Glassware Trends Show will be held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. The products that will be showcased at the event include Glass Arts and Crafts, Decorative and Functional Glassware, Glass Vases and Containers, Glass Tableware and Wine Glasses, Glass Ornaments and Accessories and much more. It is truly a must visit event for glassware enthusiasts all over the world. Those heading to Wan Chai to visit this trends show can base themselves at Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong.

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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Asian Festive, Christmas and Seasonal Show

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Set to take place from the 20th to 23rd of October 2014 in Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Asian Festive, Christmas and Seasonal Show will feature 8 dedicated product shows. The event allows buyers to easily locate the exhibits they are seeking, letting them connect with the exhibitors that will serve their requirements. A place where buyers can source their target products under one roof, it is one of the eight thematic shows that come under MEGA SHOW Part 1 Series. With a vibrant setting, the event is expected to lure in hordes of visitors who can browse its wide range of seasonal decorations, firework items, party articles and much more. Those planning to head to the region to visit this event will find Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong to be an ideal base.

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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The Sporting Life – Al Forsan Special Summer Events

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If ever there was a perfect place for sports enthusiast, any type of sports that is, it would be Al Forsan International Sports Resort in Khalifa City just a few minutes away from Abu Dhabi’s international airport and the city centre. The sporting, leisure and fun facilities here range from two freshwater lakes, one for beginners and the other for experts to wakeboard, water ski and knee board. A shooting range, a polo field, indoor and outdoor equestrian arenas, archery, a 1.2 km professional track at the Motor Sports Centre designed to provide challenging and exhilarating experiences are among Al Forsan’s facilities. Riders can achieve speeds from 30 to 70 mph at the centre’s karting circuit. The Al Forsan complex includes indoor and outdoor paintball facilities, football and rugby pitches, tennis, squash, volleyball and basketball courts and swimming pools. Five international restaurants and cafes, changing rooms and lockers for visitors and places to hire equipment for each sport and an internal transport system ensure every requirement is satisfied. It is definitely a unique sporting and leisure destination in which to ‘spend every spare moment’. Luxury villas, apartments and a 400 room hotel is also part of the complex. Guests at the Abu Dhabi villas of Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort can book training sessions and sports and games for individuals and families here.

Al Forsan special summer events calendar for 2014 targets all genders and age groups. Special sports packages combined with on site dining are available from May to September. Summer camp for 4 to 12 year olds from June to August offers sports, games and crafts for each age group. There are also special dining and sports packages for the month of Ramadan. Other specials include training packages for wakeboarding, shooting competitions for 100, 200 and 300 meter ranges from May to June, weight management, lifestyle changes and fitness training for individuals and groups, Pilates and Zumba classes.

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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Merit Making – Vesak Celebrations in Bangkok

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Visakha Bucha or Vesak is one of most important annual events among Buddhists in Thailand as it commemorates Gautama Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and ‘parinirvana’. According to Theravada Buddhist teachings these three events took place on the first full moon day in the 6th lunar month of Wisaka. This is one of the busiest days in Bangkok despite everything being shut down as Buddhists come to take part in public religious events and to be with family and friends. On this day the city’s Governor leads the people in giving alms to monks, Buddha relics are moved from the Grand Palace so that people can pay homage and members of the Thai royal family join the people to commemorate the event. Citadenes Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok, adjacent to the city’s main street, offers the ideal location from which to participate in religious activities.

Traditional Thai religious rituals are observed throughout the day. These include visiting temples at sun rise to participate in the first prayers of the day and to offer flowers and fruit, light candles and joss sticks in front of Buddha statues and to listen to sermons. Some spend the whole day at the temple clad in white, meditating and listening to sermons while others carry out various merit making activities. In the evenings candle lit processions wind their way to temples and devotees walk round the temple stupa three times to celebrate the three jewels of Buddhism, the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha. Devout Buddhists will not only observe the five precepts on this day but will add another three, not eating after the mid day meal, not wearing brightly coloured garments, jewellery and perfume and not using soft chairs and beds. In fact devout Buddhists can be identified easily as they will be dressed simply, all in white. Thai temples that are the focus of the celebrations buzz with activity. All are decorated with Buddhist flags, bunting, and various combinations of coloured electric lights. Visitors to the city can avail of the excellent services and amenities at Citadenes Sukhumvit 8 serviced accommodation Bangkok on this busy day.

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+