Author Archives: Sumaira Narayan

Asakusa Samba Carnival – sway away!

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If you are on vacation or business during the last Saturday of August in Tokyo ,you would be one of the luckiest visitors at the time. The Asakusa Samba Carnival is one of the most happening festivals in Japan that is celebrated on a very high note. This beautiful event is said to be modelled after Rio de Janeiro’s famed “Carnivale” and has been held every August except in 2011 since the day it began in 1981. The carnival has grown around the historic Sensoji Temple in the old section of the city that celebrates a huge number of traditional and cultural festivals each year.

The samba parade that takes place during this time has become the centre of the attraction. Music and laughter will fill the air, while all people would be enjoying the festive atmosphere to the fullest. Among all this happiness, there would be teams of competitors competing to win the first prize. Teams would come up with their own choreography, costumes and choose their favourite music and sway lightly and magically according to its tune. The costumes and props would add a burst of colour to the event and the music will liven up the already enthusiastic and happy surroundings. All the streets of Asakusa would come alive and mesmerise any visitor.

More than 3,500 Samba music lovers will fly to Japan during this season to take part in the event. The sight of more than 500,000 sightseers would be a very common thing each year. There would be different food stalls and vendors who will provide bites while you enjoy this cultural and entertaining festival. Do not forget to click some of the most interesting and wonderful moments of this festival while you keep enjoying every second of it. You might even find yourself swaying to the lively rhythms that would dominate the surroundings.

While visiting Japan, if you are on the lookout for quality Tokyo Accommodation one of the best that tops the list is the Somerset Azabu East Tokyo. This Serviced Apartment Tokyo offers is spacious and comfortable and has all the modern amenities to pamper you throughout your stay. The food they provide is delicious and would surely satisfy your taste buds.

Jakarta Fair 2013 – An international national celebration

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Every year, Jakarta puts on its party hat to celebrate the best elements of local culture represented from all over the country. Visitors during this exciting event should consider investing in the best holiday accommodation Jakarta has to offer, from which one can truly enjoy the festivities. The Country Woods Jakarta is an excellent choice as it features the premium long stay accommodation Jakarta boasts of to all visitors, and the property’s stylish interiors and stellar modern amenities make this the perfect home-away-from-home for all visitors. The Jakarta Fair 2013 promises to be just as faithful to its predecessors as it always is. The fair was first started in 1967 by the city’s governor at the time, who wanted to combine the capital’s night markets into one market, as well as drawing inspiration from a similar festival from Indonesia’s Dutch past, the Pasar Gambir. Over time, the fair grew to become part of the city’s anniversary celebrations and it has incorporated elements from its Dutch predecessor into the celebrations. The fair features various cultural shows, trade exhibitions, music performances featuring artists from around the country, amusement rides for all ages, as well as delicious food to tingle the taste buds and it draws visitors from around the world. The fair usually stretches on for a month of cultural celebration, but this year’s fair will last for almost two months, from 20 May to 15 July. It is one of Indonesia’s cultural extravaganzas, so do not miss exciting event during the summer months!

Esala Perahera – The festival of the tooth relic

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Kandy is one of the Sri Lankan destinations that is very popular among both local and foreign visitors. The beauty of the city is due to one major reason for visitors to visit this city over and over again without getting bored. Known as the “Hill Capital” of Sri Lanka, this city is developed and modern but still preserves its ancient values. The cool climate will welcome all those who enter this ancient city of the kings. Kandy holds another record of being the last kingdom of the country. The lake located within the centre of the city, which is known as the “Nuwara Wewa” adds more beauty and tranquillity.

Standing majestically in front of this lake is the “Temple of the Tooth Relic” also known as the Dalada Maaligawa. This houses the sacred tooth of Lord Buddha since ancient times and is located within the royal palace complex. The Buddhists around the world visit this place to pay respect to the tooth of Lord Buddha. Even non-Buddhists make it a point to visit this temple and experience the peace and serenity that is spread in every inch and also to pay respect to the tooth relic. One of the major festivals that have been created based on this tooth relic of Lord Buddha is the Esala Perahara. This festival dates back centuries, when it first started in Anuradhapura when the tooth relic was bought to Sri Lanka. From that day onwards, this has been a major event that is being sponsored by the king and would be conducted on a high scale. If you are in Kandy during July or August, this would be something that you would not want to miss.

The parade that would circle around the city includes vibrant costumes that belong to different cultures and traditions of the Sri Lankans. The whip-crackers would lead the parade informing the people that the parade is on the way. Dancers would follow the whip-crackers and would be performing at their best. The practices for this perahera are done for months and months to bring it to perfection. Fire dances would be another interesting thing to watch. The skilled artists would juggle, spin and do many stunts with blazing fire wheels, which would make the visitors gasp in awe and delight. The stilt walkers would add more excitement to the event as well. There would be a wide number of elephants dressed in colourful and decorative clothes, walking slowly and in line with the perahera. It would be surprising to see these giant animals patiently cooperating the entire time. The key attraction of this festival would be the tooth relic that would be taken in a special gold casing called the “karanduwa.” A special tusker would be chosen to have the honour of taking this tooth of Lord Buddha. This takes place for around two weeks. The best day to watch this would be the final day.

Even if you are in Colombo during this period, there are many ways that you could easily go to Kandy within a few hours. Malkey Travel & Tours (Pvt) Ltd is a company that offers Sri Lanka car rental around the country. If required, guests would be able to use these vehicles for Airport Transfers Sri Lanka.

Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday. Google+

The Great Singapore Sale 2013 – Calling All Shoppers

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Singapore has come a long way since it was just a small British trading outpost. Despite being a tiny island, the “Lion City” is currently a global hub for commerce and a highly popular vacation spot. The country’s appeal as a tourist destination is mainly due to the large profusion of attractions found here and the numerous events that are held here each year. The island’s calendar is packed full of festivals, concerts and parties, and tourists are bound to find something to do no matter what time of the year they visit.

The Great Singapore Sale is one event that is highly anticipated by locals and foreigners alike. Held every year, this massive island wide sale fiesta attracts the participation of almost every shop in the country, making Singapore an even better shopping destination than it already is. Visitors can take advantage of extended opening hours to do some late night shopping, ride the thrill from finding a great bargain and even win prizes on top of that. It is the ultimate shopping experience.

In 2013, the Great Singapore Sale will be held between the 31st of May and the 28th of July. This year’s edition is extra special since it marks the event’s twentieth anniversary. While most shops have sales and promotions, watch out for shops that have special privileges for tourists. Some shops also offer special discounts for using certain credit cards so come armed with your plastic arsenal. A country accustomed to millions of visitors annually, Singapore has excellent facilities. The local transport system is efficient and extensive, covering nearly every part of the country. Restaurants and other food places are abundant and one has the freedom to choose from a range of different cuisine. One can also find plenty of accommodation options to suit any budget.

Tourists who want to stay at the premium serviced apartments Singapore is famous for can try La Residenza Serviced Suites. They have different styles of apartments to choose from and they all come with modern amenities. The place occupies a central location which makes it very easy for guests to get around. It is definitely one of the best Singapore apartment hotels around and is suitable for both business and leisure travellers.

Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday. Google+

Bali Arts Festival – A sensational artistic showpiece

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The well-known Bali Arts Festival is a month-long celebration of the traditional as well as contemporary arts, crafts, dance, music and performances of the Indonesian province of Bali. As the event is focused on the provincial capital of Denpasar, an enthralling array of Balinese artistes converge on the city to present their finest artistic creations. At this unique extravaganza, visitors will be able to witness dances from remote mountainous areas, long-forgotten and revived dance forms, classic palace dance presentations, renowned stars of the Balinese stage and innovative productions of the Denpasar dance schools as well as choreographic creations from other parts of Indonesia and abroad.
The people of Bali take great pride in their cultural heritage. Even in remote villages, the outstanding artistes vie with each other for the opportunity to represent their village and the artistic heritage of their ancestors on this grand stage. The Bali Arts Festival naturally features the traditional dances of the province – like the gambuh, legong, barong and kecak to name a few – but also innovative contemporary choreographic presentations where old rural dances and musical features have been revived and refashioned. In this way, traditional Balinese epics like the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Panji and Sutasoma have been adapted into refashioned ballets.
Visitors are warmly welcomed to the one-of-a-kind festival, and no-one will be left unmoved by the enthralling dance and musical presentations as well as the other features of the event. The Balinese dance tradition is very ancient and forms a crucial part of religious ceremonies as well as entertainment-oriented presentations. The dancers employ the entire body, including the hands, fingers and torso as well as eye and head motions to express the story. Balinese dancers start learning their art when still very young, gradually mastering the intricate movements and expressions of the dance form. The dances are closely interlinked with the music of the gamelan, an ensemble of traditional musicians. No visit to Bali would be complete without experiencing the colourful spectacle that is Balinese dance.


Well-informed visitors considering Bali hotels will find an excellent choice in the Anantara Seminyak Bali. This quality Bali hotel offers comfortable accommodations as well as a selection of superb amenities.

Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday. Google+