As December draws near, the spirit of Christmas seeps into people’s hearts with shopping malls decorated in Christmas colours: red and green, the sidewalks slippery with frozen snow and a general feeling of excitement in the air. Traditional Christmas celebrations will involve decorating a Christmas tree, leaving out cookies and milk for Santa, hanging of stockings on the chimneys and of course, cradling cups of hot chocolate in an attempt to insulate oneself from the cold. While this form of Christmas has its own intrinsic charm, opt for a different experience this December and make your way down to Bali, Indonesia to celebrate your own tropical Christmas. Although the main demography of Indonesia is composed of non-Christians, Indonesia celebrates Christmas as a holiday with pomp …

Christmas is a time of joy and festivity, where loved ones all gather and celebrate. The season is magical, and the joy and the Christmas spirit can be seen and felt wherever you celebrate this wonderful time of the year. But if you are tired of Christmas being spent in the cold, it is time you experienced a beautiful ‘White Christmas.’ No, not a Christmas spent surrounded by white snow; a Christmas celebrated on the white sands of a tropical beach in Indonesia! Although Christianity isn’t the primary religion in Indonesia, the locals know how to celebrate the season! During the month of December, the streets of the islands are decked out in lovely, twinkling fairy lights and hundreds of people take to the streets …

A traditional holiday of great importance, the Chinese New Year also known as the Spring Festival falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese calendar which typically falls on February. Ascott Beijing is a luxury apartment in Beijing which is known to provide comfortable Beijing accommodation right at the heart of the city from which you can observe the numerous customs and traditions of this time honoured traditional festival celebrated not only in China, but also in a wide array of countries like Malaysia, Macau, Taiwan and Singapore. Chinese are known to sweep their houses thoroughly to sweep away any ill fortune on this day and to make room for good luck to come in. it is a period of great joy and festivity where …

The Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens is a thrilling event that draws in a record breaking number of fans from around the world who gather together in Dubai for over three days to be a part of the exciting super charged experience. This event marks the second leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series. For 38 years the Emirates Rugby Sevens was held at the Al Awir Ground. However in 2008 a purpose built stadium which can move from a 5000 capacity to 50’000, appropriately named ‘The Sevens’ was built on the Al Ain Road, somewhat away from the city. This move, far from dampening the crowd or event, further established the event and provided even more room for the fans to congregate. The entire stadium …

Whoever says that Christmas isn’t complete without the steady fall of snow and the cold temperatures clearly has never experienced the magic of the breath-taking Christmas celebrations in Singapore. Although the weather is warm and tropical during the months of December, in Singapore the magic of the season greets you wherever you may visit in Singapore. Full of things to do and places to see, Christmas in Singapore is a truly magical and marvellous time of year. Singapore is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year, but during the month of December, the festivities and Christmas spirit make it truly spectacular. To see streets beautifully lit up in dancing and twinkling fairy lights, the best place to visit is Orchard Road. This …

December heralds the festive season and even in a tropical paradise like Sri Lanka one can enjoy Christmas and New Year celebrations. A great place to experience these festivities is at a Sri Lanka beach hotel where you can herald in the New Year amidst stunning coastal landscapes. Located along the shores, Mermaid Hotel & Club is one such option and is an ideal Kalutara hotel which gives one a chance to have ceremonies on the beach too. The best place to visit during the Christmas season is the commercial capital Colombo. The city is decked out in a variety of decorations and colourful lights as shops, malls and retail outlets go all out when it comes to festive décor. During this period one can also find a wide …