Author Archives: roland

Hung Shing Festival – Celebrating culture in festive comfort

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Another bash of colour, the Hung Shing Festival is yet another festival that takes center stage in the well respected History of the Chinese people. Celebrating Hung Shing, a historical figure who prior to being deified was one man of skill and wisdom regarded to have been the guiding light of fishermen and merchants alike. Hung Shing Festival is celebrated on the 13th day of the second lunar month of every year. It is one festival of high regard which draws in a considerable number of tourists in witnessing this grand galore of cultural festivity.

This festival cannot simply be enjoyed without the companionship of the very best Hotel in town. Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong today is the proud patron of supreme hospitality within the city. Located within close proximity to the famous attractions of the city Cosmopolitan Hotel is not just any Hong Kong Hotel but it is the very Hotel you are looking for. With a wide range of suites to pick from you sure are going to be in very big trouble trying to choose from the best of luxury. With loads of promotions to avail, you are undoubtedly in the best of hands. Cosmopolitan also offers you the convenience of bringing with you your work where you still hold the opportunity of overlooking your responsibilities and that too with assured comfort. Guaranteeing you of memories to take back home and never want to cut short on the delightful indulges of Cosmo Hotel where you are made to feel free as bird sauntering through the fine delicacies on offer. What this magnificent Hotel offers to its valued visitors is truly beyond words; wait no more, pick up the phone and make your vacation to Hong Kong one to last.

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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The Muscat Festival, always a delight

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The city of Muscat in Oman offers many varied attractions for the foreign visitor. In order to make the most of your stay in the country an outstanding accommodation choice would be the Alila Jabal Akdhar, a resort in Oman that offers quality rooms and courteous hospitality.

The vibrant Muscat Festival is undoubtedly one of the nation’s most splendid attractions. Having been acclaimed as the nation’s largest historical and cultural event, this lively festival is Oman’s festive exhibition of the local cultural attractions. These include the country’s distinctive traditions and arts as well as its services and consumer items.

The Muscat Festival features a distinctive flavour, embodying a combination of the old and the new, the traditional and the modern. A diverse selection of different themes is featured at this engrossing festival, including presentations and discussions of such fascinating subjects as the local traditional poetry of the region. In the past the festival has included topics relevant to the present day, such as the development of solar energy. The Muscat Festival features many attractive elements, including such popular highlights as fashion extravaganzas and chocolate promotions.

A great many visitors from the Middle Eastern region frequent this festival which truly offers something for everyone. It is estimated that 1.5 million visitors frequent this popular event. Usually the Muscat Festival runs for about one month, so that there is sufficient time to include the many different facets of the event. The various individual events included in the festival are held at a number of venues across the capital city, with such locations as the Seeb Beach, Omani Heritage Village as well as the Al Qurum National Park being featured for the events.

The nation of Oman also offers a myriad of sightseeing attractions for the visitor. These highlights include such noteworthy attractions as forts, palaces, mosques, museums, parks and other places of interest. These features are sure to capture the interest of the visitor.

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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Surfing and Wind Surfing Season begins in Bentota- calling out all surfing enthusiasts

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Are you an adventure seeker looking forward to explore the stunning beaches and engage in water sport activities in Sri Lanka? Bentota is considered as a wind surfer’s paradise where surfers could venture into the ocean for an evening full of excitement. The best period to visit the south-western coast is from November to April. With the tropical sandy beaches and the waves that will keep you company, Bentota is rated among the best tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. Travellers seeking for accommodation could consider a stay at a renowned resort such as Saman Villas Bentota that is conveniently located 5 km away from Bentota providing you easy access to the surfer’s paradise.

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. Google+

Conference venues in Hunter Valley – Find the perfect location for a flawless event

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A successful conference speaks volumes about your company or organization. Finding the perfect venue is the most important component of organizing an event that is flawless. Hunter Valley is one of Sydney’s renowned wine regions located two hours away from the city limit and if you are hoping to organize a conference within the wine country then there are several venue options available.

Overlooking scenic vineyards, sophisticated décor, state of the art facilities and seamless services, Cypress Lakes Resort in Hunter Valley makes it the premier regional conference and event destination in New South Wales. With a splendid balance of business and leisure facilities the resort is ideal for overnight stays during long conferences and events. The resort is known to offer some of the best Conference & Event facilities Australia with four highly modern event centres at the premises. You find the Cypress Centre focused on small scale events while the Convention Centre too operates as a venue for conferences and events. The main conference hall is the Event Centre with versatile facilities ideal for large scale exhibitions and trade shows.

Another integral conference venue in Hunter Valley is the Hunter Valley Hotel Academy Conference Centre. Located with a two hundred acre park within the grounds of Kurri Kurri TAKE Campus, this is an excellent venue for business, educational or any other convention. Similar to Cyprus Lake Resorts, this is venue that is highly recognized for its professionalism, customer service and high quality facilities.

The Peppers Convent in Hunter Valley Wine Country is also the perfect escape for meetings, product launches, corporate events, incentive programmes and medium scale exhibitions. Offering three unique function spaces to choose from including the Brigidine Room, the Grand Marquee and the Eighty Eight hall this is an exclusive event venue in the region with an endless list of facilities and quality service staff.

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. Google+

Idul Adha: Feast of the Sacrifice, a significant festival

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Bali has over the years acquired a strong reputation as a premier holiday destination. Visitors desiring a Bali luxury spa resort will find a commendable choice in the COMO Shambhala Estate Bali. This fine accommodation offers luxurious rooms and attentive hospitality.

The people of Bali belong to different ethnic groups and religions, and there is a strong Muslim community in this Indonesian island. In Bali as in Islamic communities around the world the Muslim faithful observe a number of special practices at this esteemed time of the year. Idul Adha falls during the time of the conclusion of the yearly Haj pilgrimage to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia which is a fundamental element of Islam.

At this time extensive prayer sessions are conducted in mosques as well as open spaces throughout the island. Sacrificing animals is a traditional part of the Idul Adha celebrations. Cows, goats and sheep are commonly sacrificed and a portion of the meat is donated to the poor and less fortunate. Idul Adha is a time of joy and reflection as Muslims commemorate the piety and faith of the prophet Ibrahim. The occasion is a public holiday throughout Indonesia and visitors will have the opportunity to observe and involve themselves in the festivities.

The Idul Adha Festival is steeped in Islamic tradition and is one of the most important events for Muslims. Islamic tradition states that Ibrahim, one of the religion’s prophets, was tested by God in a trial of faith and obedience. The apple of this prophet’s eye was his young son Ishmael, whom he loved greatly. Ibrahim experienced a persistent dream in which God instructed him to sacrifice Ishmael. However just as he was about to carry out this command, God spared Ishmael’s life and provided a ram as an alternative sacrifice. The Idul Adha festival commemorates the piety and obedience of Ibrahim and his son Ishmael.

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. Google+

Thai Short Film & Video Festival in Bangkok, a delight for the film enthusiast

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The mesmerizing city of Bangkok offers many attractions for the visitor, including sightseeing highlights, cultural attractions and a host of festivals and events. If you are selecting Sathorn apartments an appealing choice would be the Ascott Sathorn Bangkok. This fine accommodation provider offers well-appointed rooms and welcoming hospitality in a conveniently accessible location.

The much anticipated Thai Short Film and Video Festival is a yearly film extravaganza held in the Thai capital Bangkok. This popular event which has been held since 1997 is devoted to creations such as short films, student films, animation, documentary films and experimental films. Conducted by the Thai Film Foundation this groundbreaking event provides a platform for local filmmakers, particularly independent film producers who create short Thai language films. A number of special programmes are also conducted as a part of the festival, drawing the attention of film lovers. Foreign films are also screened as there is a separate competition for international films.

The festival aims to encourage independent filmmaking and recognize creativity amongst Thai filmmakers. As the best and most popular films are screened as part of the festival it is eagerly awaited by Thai film aficionados.

A number of prizes are awarded in various categories as part of the festival. The R. D. Pestonji Award is granted to the best general filmmaker; the White Elephant prize is awarded to the best film by a college student; the Special White Elephant is granted to the most promising high school or even younger filmmaker; the Duke award for the finest documentary; as well as the Payut Ngaokrachang award for the best animation.

Films from many countries have been selected for the international competition, with past entries having been received from nations as far flung as France, Hong Kong, Belarus, Iran, the United States, Ukraine, China, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland and Lebanon just to name a few. With so much to view and enjoy film lovers will be enthralled by this unique film festival.

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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Mid-Autumn Festival 2014 in Chinatown, a festive highlight

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The vibrant Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated enthusiastically in Singapore’s Chinatown just as it is in Chinese communities all around the world. If you are interested in visiting the city-state at this joyous time of the year you will find an excellent accommodation in The St. Regis Singapore. One of the outstanding 5 star hotels Singapore offers this quality rest provides fine accommodations and painstaking service to assure a delightful stay.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival is a traditional event that the Chinese have celebrated over the course of many centuries. It may be thought of as the Chinese equivalent of the American Thanksgiving and involves all members of the family. According to the traditional lunar calendar the occasion falls on 8th September in 2014, but the festivities will commence several weeks before this date. During the Mid-Autumn Festival Chinese families come together to enjoy each other’s company and savour traditional sweetmeats such as mooncakes.

During the festival many Singaporeans of other ethnicities as well as tourists from overseas visit Chinatown to join in the celebrations and good cheer. Everywhere in this part of the town you will be able to see colourful street decorations as well as traditional Chinese lanterns and discern a festive ambience. Throughout the extent of Chinatown you will be able to see various groups of performers, traditional dance displays, exquisitely fashioned lanterns and streetside stalls offering sweetmeats.

To celebrate this joyous occasion many attractive events have been planned for 2014. Visitors will be entertained by a special opening ceremony, attractive night markets, fireworks displays and various nightly shows that are staged in the spirit of the season. You will also be able to enjoy a lantern making competition, lantern painting competition, trade fair and festive streetside bazaars as well as other attractions. With so much to see and enjoy a visit to Chinatown during this festival is sure to be a delight.

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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Independence Day Celebrations in Maldives – A Momentous Occasion

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The Maldives is undoubtedly one of the world’s reputed holiday destinations. Although the Maldives is small in land area, the island nation’s attractive sandy beaches, balmy climate and shimmering sapphire waters make it a pleasure to visit. Travellers intending to visit the islands and seeking a comfortable Maldives resort need look no further than the attractive Anantara Dhigu, Maldives. This well reputed resort offers appealing accommodations as well as an array of amenities making it a delightful place to stay.

One of the most important celebrations in the Maldives is the fervently observed Independence Day. On this occasion the entire nation unanimously celebrates the achievement of complete independence from the colonial power, Britain. On this day, which falls on the 26th of July, Maldivians commemorate the birth of their nation with great pride and heartfelt joy.

Many special occasions are organized to mark this momentous occasion, which is marked as a national holiday. The festivities which are focused on Republic Square in the capital Male are held on a grand scale, as it is an occasion of great national pride. On this day numerous performances and processions are conducted, whilst the entire nation watches and applauds. These performances combine both traditional elements and modern themes, which is entirely appropriate as the nation remembers the past and looks to the future with hope and pride.

This special occasion is attended by the nation’s president as well as many visiting dignitaries from abroad, as it is the country’s proudest moment. On the other hand for ordinary citizens it is also an entertaining and enjoyable day out, as they share national pride with their fellow citizens.

The celebrations commence with a marching procession made up of members of the Cadet Corps and the armed forces. This is followed by modern drill displays and traditional dances performed by children and youths. These dancers and young children are attired in colourful costumes adding to the glamour of the occasion. However there are also celebrations at the community level where ordinary people express their patriotism and national identity. Travellers who visit the country at this time of the year will be able to observe these colourful celebrations.

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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Cheung Chau Bun Festival, a vibrant celebration

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The enthusiastically celebrated Cheung Chau Bun Festival is one of Hong Kong’s most joyously celebrated festivals. As its name indicates the event is centred in the island of Cheung Chau and many people of the island who work elsewhere return to the island for this celebration. The origin of this occasion is rooted in Taoist tradition and it is considered to be one of the customary Taoist Da Jiu celebrations.

The Bun Festival draws many thousands of tourists from local areas as well as overseas to the island. The event is dated according to the traditional Chinese calendar and usually falls in the early part of May. This date coincides with the celebrations for the birthday of the Buddha. The Bun Festival originated as a ritual performed by the local fisher folk intended to pray to the heavenly powers for protection from seafaring pirates. Today however this religious aspect of the celebrations has for the most part been phased out and instead the fiesta has become a vibrant display of Chinese cultural traditions.

Many interesting customs and observances are associated with this unique event. The festivities extend for an entire week and for three days of this period the whole island practices vegetarianism. Even the local McDonald’s prepares vegetarian burgers at this time.

Numerous dragon dances as well as lion dances are organized, and there are also parades in which young children attired as modern and legendary heroes take to the streets. A number of local deities are venerated in the festivities including Pak Tai, the god of seafarers; Tin Hau, the goddess of the oceans; Hung Hsing, the God of the Southern regions; and Kuan Yin, the deity of mercy.

The focus of the festivities is the Pak Tai shrine, where the well-known mountains of buns are set up. Thousands of buns are used for this custom and in former years a race was organized where young men would rush to grab buns from the mountains of buns. Visitors will be able to witness these colourful traditions.

Selective visitors desiring a quality Hong Kong hotel will be pleased by Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong. This attractive Wan Chai hotel Hong Kong offers provides comfortable interiors and attentive hospitality.

Resistanz Festival Sheffield, a unique musical experience

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The groundbreaking Resistanz Festival which is held yearly focuses on the musical genre known as industrial music. The first edition of this popular musical extravaganza was conducted in 2011 and since then has moved from strength to strength. The festival is conducted in Sheffield at the well-established venue known simply as the Corporation.

The organizers of the first Resistanz Festival, which was meticulously planned, made it their objective to create a truly world class event that would match the finest modern music festivals on the globe. The first Resistanz event featured a strong line-up of talented and recognized bands as well as well-known DJs from across this distinctive genre of music. The intention was to assemble a selection of performers which would represent the numerous subgenres which have been created within the broad definition of industrial music.

The second edition of the fiesta met with even more success than the first, with the entirety of the performances sold out in advance. The focus of the event was once again the finest in internationally renowned industrial as well as electro musicians, complemented by the best of the performers in these spheres within the United Kingdom. The roster of featured acts included such luminaries as Grendel, Icon of Coil, Ultraviolence, Nachtmahr, Frozen Plasma and Be My Enemy just to name a few.

In 2013 the festival picked up where the previous edition had left off, this time presenting the most extensive roster of industrial musicians ever brought together within the United Kingdom. These sensational acts included acclaimed performers such as Celldweller, Neurotic Fish, Uberbyte, Aesthetic Perfection, C-Lekktor, Alien Vampires and more.

The focus of the Resistanz Festival is always the enjoyment of the fans, and this is reflected in the format and presentation of the event. If your musical tastes encompass such genres as industrial, synthpop, electro house, hard dance and hardstyle this event is sure to meet and surpass your expectations. It will also please most lovers of popular contemporary music.

If you intend to travel within the United Kingdom and would be interested in 4 star UK hotels an outstanding selection would be the UK hotel specials offered by the Millennium & Copthorne Hotels UK. This accommodation provider is a recognized name in the leisure industry.