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, …

For all Sinhalese and Hindus, April is all about festivity. From the end of March even the environment seems to feel this heart-warming change. The trees look much greener with flowers blossoming covering up every inch making it look like Mother Nature’s decorations done specially for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. To add to this beautiful site, the sound of the cuckoo bird can be heard as the background music throughout this special time. While nature gets ready to celebrate this festival in its own way, the people in Sri Lanka too start adding their contribution to enhance the excitement. Everything is done according to an auspicious time, so when the time gets closer the astrologers in the country get together to give the …

The much anticipated Sinhala and Tamil New Year is one of the most vibrant festivals celebrated in the island nation of Sri Lanka. As its name suggests the festival is observed by both of the two largest communities in Sri Lanka. Falling on the 14th of April this festival is closely linked to the local astrological traditions which regulate the event. Overall the new year celebrations can be seen to be a complex blend of Buddhist, Hindu, astrological and other indigenous traditions. Many of the new year customs, rituals and festivities are thought to have originated as celebrations marking the completion of the harvest. After the arrival of Buddhism the existing customs were modified in the light of the new religion. Many interesting festivities are …

As the veils of powdery mists engulf the mighty mountain range, re-telling a love story that is as old as time, the air grows colder and the soft winds whisper the secrets so charming, to tree and turret. Flowers bloom bright and dance to spring time songs, while melodies echo of the gay singing birds. “Little England”, they called it, this little town where romance beams every step of the way, Nuwara Eliya. In a land that sees no winter snow, the dawn of spring is rarely celebrated. However in this little town of romance, when all the colours in the world burst out in jubilant song in flower and bud everywhere and the happy chorus of the birds singing spring time songs echo thorough …

Springtime in Beijing is a magical time of year, especially in the vibrant Pinggu district, heralded as one of the top ten destinations in the world for lovers of all things floral. Check into a stylish serviced apartment in Beijing, which is the ideal way to soak up the various scents, sights, and sounds that pervade the city during this season. The Somerset ZhongGuanCun Beijing in particular features a centrally located selection of Beijing serviced apartments guaranteed to make any stay in the region unforgettable. Time your visit to coincide with the area’s gorgeous spring, and you will be treated to a heavenly experience when the thousands of peach trees in the Pinggu district burst into bloom. Covering an expansive stretch of about 14,674 hectares, the vibrant peach …

If you love all things jazz or just enjoy listening to live music then the next time you plan to visit Jakarta look to coincide the trip with the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2014. Set to take place from February 28th to March 2nd, this popular event will be held at the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) and visitors should look to find accommodation at a centrally located Jakarta city hotel. Alila Jakarta is one such Jakarta hotel and is ideally situated close to the Presidential Palace. Inaugurated in 2005, the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is a celebration of all things jazz and attracts a wide cross section of artistes from around the world. But it’s not just jazz which comes to the forefront at this event; …