Author Archives: pushpitha

Sepang Circuit Races 2013 –strictly for race fans!

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Located amidst of the most happening shopping destinations the Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur is one of the most luxurious and elegant Kuala Lumpur Hotel available. With spacious rooms and modern facilities this Hotel in Bukit Bintang has become one of the most favorite places to the visitors. The ‘Home of Motorsports’ or the Sepang International Circuit is one of the must visit places if you are in Malaysia.

Built with the purpose of making it Malaysia the hub for motor racing activities in the region this places is not only a physical facility for Motorsports. Many top class events are held at this venue each year attracting thousands and thousands of fans to Malaysia. In March 2013 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix will be held in this circuit where large numbers of crowds are expected to witness this exhilarating event. Apart from this the Malaysian Super Series and Sepang 1000 Kilometer Endurance Race will be held this year in this circuit as well.

 

Sentosa Flower Festival 2013- An exciting floral extravaganza!

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Sentosa Flower Festival is a much awaited annual event organized to celebrate the colours of Spring. If you are looking for conveniently located accommodation to catch all the action in Singapore, find a Orchard Road hotel Singapore as it gives you easy access to all the main attractions and exciting events. Orchard Hotel Singapore, which is a renowned hotel Singapore has in store for you, promises world class services during your stay in this vibrant city. This colourful event has an exciting programme lined up for all its visitors. Thematic Gardens, Giant Floral Walls, sculpture displays, Hawker streets and Festive markets are some of the breathtaking events which are organized in this floral extravaganza.

Enjoying Chinese New Year Celebrations in Taiwan

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One of the most important festivals for Chinese the world over including in Taiwan is the Chinese New Year. Those visiting the country and in search of hotels in Taichung from which to experience the festivities can stay at Millennium Vee Hotel Taichung. This modern Taichung hotel also offers special New Year promotions to help you enjoy your stay all the more. Spanning a total of 15 days, this annual event is marked by a variety of celebrations including family meals, the exchanging of gifts between loved ones, the lighting of firecrackers and the sharing of delectable cuisine. You can also indulge in some shopping at New Year markets in Huayin Street and Dihua Street, while not to be missed is the fascinating Lantern Festival which takes place on the last day of the festival.IMAGE

Nine Emperor Gods Festival – A Nine Day Celebration!

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Bangkok is the capital city of the Southeast Asian nation of Thailand. The most populous city of Thailand as well, Bangkok serves as the hub of Thailand’s commercial and cultural activity. It is also one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations due to its unique lifestyle, leisure and cultural attractions, and its lively nightlife.

One of the most unique cultural festivals celebrated in Bangkok is the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. This event is a nine day long Taoist festival consisting of various traditions and rituals. This festival has a rich heritage, and is a very colourful and vibrant celebration, which provides great insights to the culture of Bangkok.

Celebrated at the beginning of the 9th Lunar month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is celebrated in several countries such as Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand. The Nine Emperor Gods are generally accepted to be 9 stars, considered to be the offspring of the Female Deity; Dou Mu, located around the Big Dipper. Other theories are that they are nine martyrs of the Qin Dynasty, who were underground Ming loyalists. There are many unique traditions associated with this event. The first is that the devotees who celebrate this festival become vegetarian for the nine days of its duration.

Prayers and other rituals are also performed throughout the nine days at river banks in a bid to invite the Nine Emperor Gods to earth, while also praying to dispel any bad fortune befallen on the people. However, the highlight of this event is the Sending off Ceremony of the Nine Emperor Gods. This ceremony involves the sending off the invited Gods bank through the river, which is accompanied by many colourful dragon boats and lion dances. This colourful festival also shows the social and religious solidarity in Bangkok, as thousands of devotees attend this event.

Located on the splendid banks of the river Chao Phraya is Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa, a luxurious Bangkok resort. Offering accommodation in a range of stylish rooms and plush suites, the hotel is ideal for a soothing stay. One can also be pampered by the luxury spa, wellness, dining and leisure services and amenities of the resort, making it one of the most recommendable 5 star hotels in Bangkok.

Chinese Lunar New Year’s Day in Hong Kong – A Day full of Merriment!

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Chinese Lunar New Year which falls on the very first day of the lunar month in the Chinese calendar is something that many Asian countries celebrate with much fanfare. Just like China, Hong Kong too celebrates this festival in a glamorous manner. The city is lit up and the streets get crowded with many people in the festive mood.

This event is also popular as the Spring Festival and the ceremony marks the end of the winter season. Among all the destinations, Hong Kong makes this festival quite vibrant and many tourists love to visit the city during this period. They follow the traditions as they were a thousand years back along with many entertaining additions.

During the New Year days the whole country is full of happiness and in a festive mood while people shop around the many boutiques that are open later than normal, giving customers a last minute opportunity to shop for the grand occasion. The parades hit the streets with lion dancers, dragon dancers and so many colourful pageants that illuminate the streets of Hong Kong. The New Years Eve is celebrate with families getting together with gifts being exchanged and having a very grand meal. They also bless each other for a prosperous New Year ahead. There are many auspicious events happening with almost everyone visiting temples and receiving blessings for a prosperous future.

The ancient Chinese performed all the colourful activities and lit firecrackers to scare away the malevolent spirits. It is a very common tradition to greet everyone you meet saying ‘kung hei fat choy’ which gives the meaning ‘congratulations and be prosperous’. Those visiting during this time can experience a lively cultural festival that happens every year in a very grand scale with the participation of many locals and even tourists. It will surely be a memorable experience while you have a good insight of the cultural roots, beliefs, traditions and customs of this event.

While you are on vacation a fine place to accommodate yourself is Cosmo Hotel Mongkok which is a leading hotel in Kowloon. Ideal for those in search of Mongkok hotels from which to enjoy the New Year and take in the festive atmosphere, this hotel offers contemporary accommodation along with a range of modern comforts.

Sanam Luang – A blank Space in History? Or Not?

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A 30 acre expanse of empty space and dying grass in the heart of the city, not a tree to shade the beating hot sun with homeless people prowling the corners begging for money and pigeon poop covering every bit of concrete that would have been a possible place to sit is far from being charming. Sanam Luang or the Royal Field in Thailand is a pretty bleak place on the ordinary day but it has seen the birth, revolution and the make of a nation and people. During one of the many ceremonies or protests that have taken place in Bangkok the park transforms to a busy bubble of chaos with hundreds of thousands of people gathering in colorful attire to witness history in the make.

Situated in the Phra Nakhon district facing the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, is the Sanam Luang in the heart of the historic center of Bangkok, Thailand. Sanam Luang was initially known as Thung Phra Men (Royal Cremation ground) and later renamed to Thong Sanam Luang which was shortened to become Sanam Luang as we call it today. It has been a part of the people since the time of King Rama I with Royal cremations taking place as well as other ceremonies open to the public. Paddy cultivation plays a vital role in the daily lives of the Thai people and the Sanam Luang which was an ordinary plot of land in front of the palace was used to grow rice. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony and the Ceremony of Calling of Rain for paddy cultivation was conducted at the Sanam Luang with the patronage of the then monarch.

Through the ages the park has served the people as a race track, a golf course and a place for kite flying. Even today although there is no need to grow paddy in front of the palace, the ceremony of calling the rain is still conducted at Sanam Luang and the most recent cremation ceremony was of Princess Bejaratana RAjasuda, the only daughter of King Rama VI in 2012.

Anantara Bangkok Sathorn is a sought out Bangkok Hotel which is ideal for both the business and leisure traveler. It is among the best of the Luxury Hotels Bangkok has to offer.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony: An Ancient Rite Continued

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Historically, the economies of most Asian countries depended greatly on agriculture and as a result, even in modern times the harvesting season is given great importance and prominence in their calendars as they practice rites and rituals that have stood the test of time hoping that they will make the oncoming harvest a fruitful one.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony which is still carried out in Thailand is one such example. This ceremony is presently carried out in Thailand and Cambodia but is no longer practiced in Burma subsequent to the abolishment of the Burmese monarchy. In modern day Thailand, the ceremony usually takes place during the month of May as determined by astrology.

The ceremony is made up of a number of rituals that are of intrinsic interest. The seeds of rice are sown while oxen are used to plough the field. Subsequently, depending on what the oxen devour out of an array of food including beans, grass, water, rice and corn, the astrologers are said to predict the fruitfulness or futility of the oncoming harvest. The Thai tradition began during the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th century and an illustration of the even was depicted on their currency in the 20th century.

In modern times, the Crown Prince of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkom presides over the Royal Ploughing Ceremony when it is held at Sanam Luang in the capital of Thailand. The rice seed that is sown in the fields is obtained from the grounds of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Chitralada Palace grounds and subsequent to the sowing process, spectators gather the seed for it is said to be auspicious.

The Ceremony is truly a sight to behold as the Thai celebrate their deep rooted beliefs and cultural heritage and herald the new harvest in the hope that it is bountiful. If you are residing in a Bangkok hotel during the month of May, this event is one that you should attend if you wish to gain a spectacular insight into the culture of the Siamese people. Combine this insight into the local culture with the classic charm and contemporary elegance of Anantara Bangkok Sathorn, an urban sanctuary and one of the premier hotels Bangkok located just moments away from the heart of the city.

Taipei Lantern Festival

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The Taipei Lantern Festival is considered as one of the most romantic festivals in Taiwan. You can locate yourself at one of the luxury hotels in Taipei such as the Regent Taipei and visit these amazing attractions. This luxury hotel Taipei offers a central location for your easy access. Traditionally this festival is celebrated by making lanterns and displaying glittering decorated lanterns. This festival is celebrated at the end of the Chinese New Year holiday and is an important day for ethnic Chinese globally. The Taipei city assists in commemorating the festival on a large scale along with delightful stage shows.

Churches in Pondicherry- Magnificent resemblance of the French colonial era

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Renowned as one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India, Pondicherry has a great historical background as a French colony. Pondicherry is one of the francophone locations in the world and you can still witness the colonial past etched into the great city and lives of the locals. This coastal town in South India still has remnants of colonial statues, churches and buildings.

This popular tourist destination in India boasts of several architecturally significant churches influenced by the unique fusion of cultural heritage. The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine are some of the significant churches you can visit during your holiday to Pondicherry. A visit to these religious sites is not only a popular pilgrimage for the Christian and Catholic devotees, but also a great experience for the non-Christian visitors to these places.

Located in the south boulevard, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a fascinating representation of Gothic architecture. You can witness the intricately designed unique stained glass panels which portray important landmarks from the life of Jesus Christ. Dating back to the 18th century, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built by French missionaries.

The Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges also known as The Church of Our Lady of Angles is a remarkable historical building which resembles outstanding masonry. During your visit to the place you will notice the features of both Doric and Ionic styles in the imposing facade. Before you enter the church you can get a glimpse of the statue of Our Lady carrying Baby Jesus standing tall in front of the church. This church is considered as a perfect resemblance of the Basilica at Lourdes in Southern France.

Situated on the Cathedral Street in Pondicherry, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is another ancient church which was built in 1692. After going through several modifications, the cathedral took its current form in 1791. This church is significant as it is one of the first churches built in Pondicherry. It houses an orphanage and still receives the highest respect of the devotees.

A luxury Pondicherry hotel will make your vacation in this colonial town an unforgettable experience. Reserve your Pondicherry hotel accommodation at Hotel Atithi prior to your arrival and enjoy a comfortable stay while you explore the magnificent churches in this south Indian coastal city.

Had Rin Nok and Had Rin Nai – Two Sides of the Same Coin!

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Separated by a strip of peninsular, Had Rin Nok and Had Rin Nai are two entirely different beaches on two sides of the island peninsular of Ko PhaNgan in South Thailand.

Had Rin Nai also known as Sunset Beach is the quieter and peaceful of the two, boasting of resorts and more family friendly accommodation options. This stretch of coast is considerably narrower than its twin and the sand slightly rough to the touch, while the sea is considerably shallower during the off season time.

In contrast, Had Rin Nok, known as Sunrise Beach, is a thriving, bustle of activity, home to the famous Full Moon Party that is held every month around the time of the full moon. Clubs and backpacker accommodation line the shore and a continuous throb of trendy techno music can be heard all day long.

It is an attractive stretch of beautiful white sandy beach that draws in happy tourists from around the world looking to party it up in Thailand. The sea is ideal for bathing and beach games and sun worshippers can be found all year around. Jet skiing, surfing, beach volleyball and sun bathing are common and constant activities along this beach.

A visit at any time of the year would make it clear that Had Rin Nok beach never sleeps and certainly not at night time. Many a bar with fancy names caters to the hundreds of mainly youth who come to enjoy the party atmosphere at the beach. During the party time fireworks and music take on an identity of its own.

This beach in recent times has however developed to include a higher end of accommodation options that cater to various types of travellers. You can find manyKoh Phangan hotels located alongside the coast which offer a truly idyllic setting in which to enjoy the sun, sand and surf. Staying at Koh Phangan resorts such as Rasananda Koh Phangan Villa Resort & Spa gives you the chance to enjoy luxurious yet intimately cozy accommodation options that offers comfortable exclusivity yet never allows you to forget you are in beautiful Thailand. The tasteful décor and ambiance created is subtle yet stylish whilst the food on offer is a heady combination of Thai, Asian and International dishes.