Author Archives: pushpitha

Vesak in Sri Lanka – The most Magical Time of the Year

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There is something magical about the month of May in Sri Lanka; the colourful lanterns adorning the streets, the throngs of people, the life, the ambience; all of this is part of the season of Vesak. The festival of Vesak is observed on the full moon that falls on the month of May and in Sri Lanka, celebrations go on for a week. It is one of the most beautiful times of the year. Despite being a festival of contemplation and rejuvenation, there is an aura of life and fun. Hundreds of locals from right round the island visit Colombo and Kandy to bask in this spectacular ambience. If you are a planning a holiday to Sri Lanka, choose the month of May, so that you too can be part of the celebration of Vesak.

Vesak is a Buddhist Festival and marks the day of Lord Buddha’s Birth and the Day of his enlightenment; both of which supposedly fell on the same day. The life of Buddha, who was enlightened into a life of simplicity after enjoying the luxury of being Prince Gautama, plays a significant role in Buddhism. The Festival of Vesak propagates Lord Buddha’s journey into enlightenment through a number of beautiful Pandols, locally known as Thoranas. These Pandols are colourfully lit and depict the story of Buddha through a series of pictures. Colourful Pandols gigantic in size adorns the corners of nearly every street in Colombo. The most common significance of the festival of Vesak is the enchanting lanterns. During the week of the Festival, nearly every building in Colombo is adorned on the outside by beautiful lanterns, giving the streets a magical charm. The talented Lantern creators display their creativity in competitions that draws in throngs of visitors.
Free food is offered in stalls called Dhansals as vesak is a time for charity and good deeds. It is also prohibited to sell meat and alcohol during the week.

While you are in Sri Lanka car Rental services are an absolute must. A popular name in the industry is Malkey Rent A Car. From your AirPort Taxi in Colombo Sri Lanka to touring anywhere in the island Malkey offers it all.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+

Vesak Day in Singapore

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One of the most significant dates in the Buddhist calendar is Vesak. It is the day that commemorates the 3 main events in Lord Buddha’s life; birth, enlightenment and death. Singapore is an Asian country that has a large number of Buddhists and therefore Vesak is a public holiday here. It falls on the 15th of the 4th month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
Various temples throughout Singapore have activities starting from dawn during Vesak. Devotees visit the temple with offerings of flowers, joy-sticks and candles. These simple offerings have meaning too as they symbolize that life also wilts away like the flowers or burns down like the candle and joy-stick.
This day has more good deeds being performed as it is believed that the merit of the good deeds you perform on Vesak day will increase many fold. While mass activities like blood donation are organized, families also engage in more personal ones such as releasing caged birds and animals etc. Rituals include chanting ‘mantras’, being a vegetarian and bathing a Buddha statue.
From a celebration manner Buddha statues are illuminated as well as candlelight processions. As the Buddhists in Singapore are comprised of those who arrived here from China, Sri Lanka and Burma, the practices during Vesak vary greatly. Witnessing the diverse ways in which all of them commemorate the most important day in their spiritual leader’s life is a truly humbling experience.
For instance in the Mahayana Buddhist Temple, devotees climb the steps in both knees, praying at every third step. The prayers are for personal blessings, repentance as well as world peace. In the Burmese and Sri Lankan Buddhist Temples a pot of rice milk is cooked in remembrance of Buddha’s last meal.
Since most places are closed on this day having an accommodation that has activities to keep you occupied is advisable for those of you who don’t want to participate in the happenings of the city. W Singapore Sentosa Cove is one such place. It is among the most popular luxury resort in Singapore. The hotel belongs to the acclaimed Sentosa Resort Singapore chain.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+

Easter Holidays – A time for celebration

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Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Easter holiday is an important festival that is celebrated by Christians all over the world. Luxury hotels all around the world celebrate this holiday with much zest and vigour and Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas also offer a range of luxury hotel resorts for those who are interested in spending this holiday in style. Typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for most churches, Easter can fall anywhere between the 22nd march and the 25th of April. Many nations follow the practice of colouring hard boiled eggs for Easter, as the egg which stands to symbolize new life has become the traditional symbol of the Easter festival itself. The Easter bunny is the popular anthropomorphic character often associated with gift giving and is often considered as analogous to Santa Claus.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+

Songkran Festival 2014 in Phuket – Celebrate the thrills of the spills!

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Get ready for some wet ‘n wild fun when you visit Thailand in the middle of April, and prepare to get soaked during the famous Songkran Festival, which features three full days of water-based shenanigans, so pack waterproof clothing and prepare to get soaked! Get out and join the fun (bring your own water pistol!) or retreat to a stylish Phuket resort to relax and unwind in style. In particular, consider checking into a Phuket Beach Resort such as the tranquil Anantara Phuket, Thailand. But if the fun demon within propels you to venture into Phuket during April 13-15, best come prepared, as no one is exempted from the splashing of their lives. You will see huge trucks that park alongside the main roads, armed with barrelfuls of ice water, primed to be launched at unsuspecting victims, mainly cops. Little kids transform into evil little water pixies armed with water pistols that will drench you at a moment’s notice, please and thank you! Don’t even think about driving a motorcycle as you’ll be unseated in a hurry by a deluge, and traffic crawls to a snail’s pace. These restrictions notwithstanding, it’s all done in the spirit of fun, joy, and ultimately blessing, as the water is believed to purify the victims of the year’s sins. So plunge in and splash with wild abandon!

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+

Project Qatar 2014 – Gearing Up For the Future

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Highlighting construction technology and bringing together manufacturers and buyers, Project Qatar 2014 is well worth visiting for those looking to learn the latest in industry trends and projects. If you are in search of a Doha hotel which to use as base for your travels then consider Millennium Hotel Doha. This hotel in Doha offers the very best in contemporary comforts helping to make your stay all the more memorable.

Scheduled to take place from 12th to 15th May, Project Qatar 2014 is also referred to as the International Construction Technology & Building Materials Exhibition. The event sees the presence of both international and local exhibitors showcasing facilities and services in both outdoor and indoor function space. Here one will get a chance to learn more about the latest in technology and modern equipment that are available, while this event also provides an ideal forum in which to forge new business partnerships as well.

 

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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Kite Festival in Qatar – of many shapes and colours

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Doha is a cosmopolitan city popular around the world not only for the business benefits that one could achieve but also for its vibrant tourism. The variety of activities that one would find in this city is capable of keeping the visitor entertained for a long period of time. The massive shopping malls that reach high up to the sky are the best that any shopaholic could get. You can go on a desert safari with your loved ones and enjoy a truly Arabian touch to your vacation. Also amusement parks, museums, waterfronts and much more can be found in this amazing Arabian city.

Apart from all this Qatari oriented fun filled and education activities there are many more things that a visitor could enjoy while in Doha. It is very rarely that we find a cultural event belonging to one country taking place in another that is attended by locals and tourists alike. While in Doha, if you are lucky you will have the opportunity to witness the Ferozkoh Kite Festival. The festival serves as a great platform from which to experience Afghan culture while in Qatar.

The event itself is a colourful affair. Kites specially flown down from Afghanistan cover the Qatari skies. Different shapes of kites in vibrant colours would look like flocks of giant bird. Amidst the Afghan music the sound of laughter could be heard everywhere making it apparent that everyone is enjoying every second of the event. There would be dance troops specially flown down to add more vibe to the event.

For children, this is one of the best that they would experience during a vacation. Apart from flying kites, there are more activities such as painting and storytelling to entertain them. To add to it, there are hand puppet workshops where children could go and have some extra fun. Food, is one thing that you must try out while absorb din all this fun. The Ferozkoh Kite Festival has lines of stalls which sell an assortment of food prepared according to Afghanistan recipes which are delicious and quite simply heavenly.

After a day of extended fun, why not return to one of the hotels in Doha to relax and unwind? Copthorne Hotel Doha is one of the best hotels Doha that will provide you with all the modern facilities complete with an Arabian touch.

Egg Hunt – Easter in Bali

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As Good Friday and Easter Sunday are public holidays in Indonesia, Bali simply heaves with visitors both local and foreign who come here to enjoy the extraordinary packages offered by hotels and restaurants around the island. Flights from Australia to Jakarta are full to capacity as many try to get to Bali to enjoy the festivities as much as the sun, sea and sand.

Since Bali has had Christian enclaves going back several hundred years there are many Catholic, Protestant and churches of other denominations in many parts of the island. Locals and visitors alike who are desirous of beginning the day with a religious ceremony can attend services both in English and Indonesian at St Francis Xavier Church in Kuta, St Josephs in Denpasar, Lady of All Nations Church in Nusa Dua, the Catholic cathedral in Renon and at the many protestant churches and those of other denominations around the island.

With a large number of visitors on the island, many of whom have come specifically on Easter packages, all the hotels and many restaurants have special Easter programmes. All flights are fully booked weeks in advance for the Easter weekend by people from the mainland and Australia. Easter activities at hotels generally target families with young children.

Traditional entertainment include egg painting, basket decorating, egg hunts, face painting, lucky draws, family egg toss, glitter tattoos, street performers, magic shows, Easter colouring competitions and tug of war. This is followed by Easter Sunday brunch for the whole family with complementary use of hotel facilities for those who are not guests.

Easter egg hunts are even offered by water sports companies who purportedly hide the eggs among the reefs! Some hotels organise a different sort of Easter celebration by taking guests on a trek through a rural area to enjoy egg painting and creating wood sculptures in a local artisan’s studio that can make a beautiful and memorable souvenir, followed by a whole day Easter programme. Christian community organisations also organise free activities such as the special Easter programme in Seminyak Square featuring games for the whole family, street performers and magic shows.

Enjoy sun, sea, sand and glorious sunsets from Anantara Seminyak Bali, the quintessential Bali resort that offers a range of modern, up-market facilities and services. Among which are commodious and luxurious all suite accommodation with gorgeous views, dining venues with well planned and executed menus, yoga classes and specialised spa treatments, a range of onsite leisure options and excursion that promote contacts with local rural cultures. Stay in this popular resort in Bali to enjoy its many unique attributes and have a memorable holiday experience.

Shanghai International Flower Festival – an assortment of colour and beauty

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Celebrated once in every two years, the Shanghai International Flower Festival is one event that must be marked down on your itinerary should you be thinking of heading over to the city in the future. Therefore selecting a serviced apartment in Shanghai to come home to after the event is advisable. With its serviced apartments Shanghai has to offer, Ascott Huai Hai Road Shanghai would be one of the facilities that can be considered.

Regarded as one of the most important celebrations of Chinese culture, the festival is held at the Changfen Park which sees both locals and tourists in attendance. Showcasing a range of colourful, beautiful and sweet smelling flowers, Shanghai International Flower Festival is one such event that is looked forward to with much enthusiasm. Scheduled to be held between the 01st – 30th of April 2014, the flower festival is sure to attract an even larger gathering than previous times and is a definite must-do if you are holidaying in the area during this time.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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Singapore Arts Festival – a cultural spectacle

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Organised by the National Arts Council on annual basis, the Singapore Arts Festival is definitely worth checking out for it will offer you an ideal base on which to unearth the country’s extravagant culture and customs. Sheraton Towers Singapore which is luxury hotel in Singapore will afford pleasing accommodation should you require to holiday in the country during the time of this festival. This 5 star hotel in Singapore should be thought of beforehand.
Showcasing the local arts from diverse communities in the country, the festival has been successfully held since its inaugural showing in 1977. From visual arts, dance, music and theatrical acts, the Singapore arts Festival is undoubtedly the place to be at. Bringing a host of international artists to its stage, the event is one of the most attended spectacles in Singapore and a ‘must-do’ for all of you who value the essence of the arts. Adding the latest inventions in modern day technology, this festival represents the vibrant culture for which Singapore continues to leave an impression in the hearts of the global audience.

Team Building Activities – building team spirit for the better

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Organising team building activities is one of the ways in which a business organisation can help aid the growth of its employees. Well known as great learning curves and fun-filled activities, those seeking event planners in Sri Lanka could turn to Nkar Mice. Offering the most sought after of event management Sri Lanka experiences; the team will offer you advice on how to make your event so much better and enjoyable.

From team building exercises, day outings to full day seminars, such are the options made available to corporate. The setting for your programme is one of the important factors that must be given due consideration. Making sure that your employees are comfortable with all the facilities is vital so that you get the best out of everyone who participates. Also having a diverse range of activities on your agenda is a key ingredient in an effort to maintain the interest levels throughout the day. Interactive sessions are fast becoming the trend in modern day team building sessions where great emphasis is given to the active participation of the participants. Having the right type of audio visual equipment will also make sure that your event goes smoothly as planned with less room technical faults. Such are the factors that will enable you to carry out exemplary team building activities for the betterment of your employees who contribute towards the development of your organisation.

 

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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